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Induction of Murine Intestinal Inflammation by Adoptive Transfer of Effector CD4+CD45RBhigh T Cells into Immunodeficient Mice
Published on: April 21, 2015
Regulatory T cells in inflammatory bowel disease
Elisa K Boden1, Scott B Snapper
1Gastrointestinal Unit and the Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Current Opinion in Gastroenterology
|January 8, 2009
Summary
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial for maintaining gut health. While essential in mice, their exact role in human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) requires further investigation for potential therapies.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- The intestinal immune system requires a delicate balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses to maintain homeostasis.
- Dysregulation of this balance is implicated in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the pathogenesis of IBD in both murine models and human patients.
- To elucidate mechanisms governing Treg function and generation in the context of intestinal inflammation.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on Treg function in murine models of colitis.
- Analysis of data concerning Treg numbers and function in human IBD patients.
Main Results:
- Murine models reveal novel Treg mechanisms, including interleukin-35, adenosine generation, and cytokine deprivation-induced apoptosis.
- While Tregs are vital for intestinal homeostasis in mice, their precise role in human IBD is still under investigation.
- Patients with IBD exhibit reduced Treg numbers in blood and colon, yet their in vitro function remains intact.
Conclusions:
- Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a significant role in maintaining intestinal self-tolerance.
- Tregs represent a promising therapeutic target for managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
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