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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Generation of Induced Regulatory T Cells from Primary Human Naïve and Memory T Cells
Published on: April 16, 2012
Tryptophan catabolism generates autoimmune-preventive regulatory T cells
Francesca Fallarino1, Ursula Grohmann, Sylvaine You
1Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, 06126 Perugia, Italy. fllfnc@tin.it
Abstract:
Tryptophan catabolism is a tolerogenic effector system in regulatory T cell function, yet the general mechanisms whereby tryptophan catabolism affects T cell responses remain unclear. We provide evidence that its effects include the emergence of a regulatory phenotype in naive CD4(+)CD25(-) cells via the general control non-depressing 2 (GCN2) protein kinase mediated induction of the forkhead transcription factor Foxp3. These cells are capable of effective control of diabetogenic T cells in vivo.
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