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In Vitro Differentiation of Human CD4+FOXP3+ Induced Regulatory T Cells (iTregs) from Naïve CD4+ T Cells Using a TGF-β-containing Protocol
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The Foxp3+ regulatory T cell: a jack of all trades, master of regulation

Qizhi Tang1, Jeffrey A Bluestone

  • 1Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA.

Nature Immunology
|February 21, 2008
PubMed

The function of regulatory T cells (T(reg) cells) has been attributed to a growing number of diverse pathways, molecules and processes. Seemingly contradictory conclusions regarding the mechanisms underlying T(reg) cell suppressive activity have revitalized skeptics in the field who challenge the core validity of the idea of T(reg) cells as central immune regulators. However, we note that a consensus may be emerging from the data: that multiple T(reg) cell functions act either directly or indirectly at the site of antigen presentation to create a regulatory milieu that promotes bystander suppression and infectious tolerance. Thus, the versatility and adaptability of the Foxp3+ T(reg) cells may in fact be the best argument that these cells are 'multitalented masters of immune regulation'.

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