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Updated: May 25, 2026
08:20
In Vitro Differentiation of Human CD4+FOXP3+ Induced Regulatory T Cells (iTregs) from Naïve CD4+ T Cells Using a TGF-β-containing Protocol
Published on: December 30, 2016
Nature and nurture in Foxp3(+) regulatory T cell development, stability, and function
Terrence L Geiger1, Sharyn Tauro
1Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA. terrence.geiger@stjude.org
Human Immunology
|January 14, 2012
Summary
Foxp3(+) regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg) are crucial for immune balance. This review details how Treg cells develop, adapt, and specialize, highlighting their dual stability and plasticity in maintaining homeostasis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Foxp3(+) regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg) are essential for immune and inflammatory response regulation.
- Absence of Treg cells results in severe multiorgan autoimmunity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on the development, stability, and plasticity of Treg cells.
- To present Treg cells not as a single entity but as a family of related cell types.
Main Methods:
- Review of current scientific literature on Treg cell biology.
- Analysis of studies investigating Treg development, stability, and specialization.
Main Results:
- Treg cells can develop either intrinsically in the thymus or adaptively in peripheral tissues.
- These distinct Treg populations exhibit different specificities, stability, and genetic profiles.
- Treg cells can further specialize, similar to T helper subsets, to meet specific immune demands.
Conclusions:
- Treg cells are a diverse family of cells with overlapping functions, crucial for maintaining immunologic homeostasis.
- Treg cells exhibit a remarkable balance of stability and adaptability in their immune functions.
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