JLE

Hématologie

MENU

Physiology and pathophysiology of CD4 +CD25 + regulatory T cells Volume 12, issue 3, Juin 2006

Authors
INSERM U519, Faculté de médecine et de pharmacie, 22 bd Gambetta, 76183 Rouen, France

Recent years have seen the reemergence of suppressor cells as a major subject of immunological research. Abundant evidence has now convincingly shown that naturally occurring CD25 +CD4 + regulatory cells (Treg) play a key role in the maintenance of self tolerance and also in the negative control of different types of immune responses. The identification of molecular markers in both mice and humans has enabled thorough investigation of these cells. We herein describe the main phenotypic and functional characteristics of Treg, and review their dysfunctions in autoimmune diseases. Beside their role in the maintenance of self-tolerance, Treg have now extended their influence to transplantation tolerance and we also discuss their clinical potential for the control of graft-versus-host disease.