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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
14:23
Generation of Induced Regulatory T Cells from Primary Human Naïve and Memory T Cells
Published on: April 16, 2012
The control of T cell activation vs. tolerance
1Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Avenue, Suite M590, San Francisco, CA 94143-0511, USA. aabbas@itsa.ucsf.edu
Autoimmunity Reviews
|July 10, 2003
Summary
B7 costimulators and IL-2 signaling can either activate T cells for immune responses or induce regulatory T cells to maintain self-tolerance. The outcome depends on signal strength and innate immune cues.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- B7 costimulators and Interleukin-2 (IL-2) are crucial for T lymphocyte activation and immune responses.
- These signals also play a dual role in immune regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how the same signals (B7 costimulators and IL-2) can lead to distinct T cell fates.
- To understand the factors influencing the balance between immune activation and tolerance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of T cell activation pathways.
- Investigating the role of signal magnitude in determining T cell outcomes.
- Examining the impact of innate immune responses on T cell signaling.
Main Results:
- The same signals that activate T cells can also induce regulatory T cells or T cell apoptosis.
- Signal strength and the presence of innate immune stimuli modulate these outcomes.
- This balance is critical for maintaining self-tolerance and terminating immune responses.
Conclusions:
- The magnitude of B7 and IL-2 signals, alongside innate immune context, dictates T cell fate.
- This regulatory mechanism is essential for preventing autoimmunity and ensuring effective immune surveillance.
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