T-cell regulatory

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) suppress the activation of the immune system and thus control the tolerance of the immune system. In a healthy organism, Tregs thus play an important role in the prevention of autoimmune diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus), allergies (see allergy below), asthma and transplant rejection. The role of regulatory B cells (Breg) is also important for the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.

Today, a distinction is made between 2 main groups of ^CD4+ Tregs:

• naturally occurring Tregs produced in the thymus: ^{CD4+/CD25+/Foxp3+/n-Tregs}
• induced Tregs: Tr1 cells (mainly produce IL-10), TH3 cells (mainly produce TGF-beta).

Today, a distinction is made between 2 main groups of ^CD8+ Tregs:

• TC1 cells (produce interferon-gamma)
• TC2 cells (produce interleukin-4).

CD4+/CD+25/FOXp3+ natural regulatory T cells are defined as a subgroup of regulatory T cells (Treg).

Treg-initiated suppression is predominantly achieved via cell-cell contacts (CD4+/CD25+/Foxp3+/nTreg).

Characteristic for CD4+/CD25+/nTregs is the expression of the transcription factor Foxp3 (see below forkhead box protein 3) within the cell (intracellular).

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