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Updated: May 25, 2026

Phenotypic and Functional Analysis of Activated Regulatory T Cells Isolated from Chronic Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus-infected Mice
Published on: June 22, 2016
Regulatory T cells and parasites.
T P Velavan1, Olusola Ojurongbe
1Institute for Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, Germany. velavan@medizin.uni-tuebingen.de
Parasites often evade immune clearance by inducing regulatory T cells (Tregs). This review explores Treg-mediated immunosuppression mechanisms and their role in host susceptibility to parasitic infections and related diseases.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Human hosts encounter numerous parasites, yet often fail to clear them despite immune recognition.
- Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are increasingly recognized for their role in modulating host immune responses during parasitic infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms of Treg-mediated immunosuppression in human hosts.
- To examine the functional role of Tregs and regulatory gene polymorphisms in parasitic infections and infectious diseases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of immunological concepts and studies on host-parasite interactions.
- Focus on Treg-mediated immunosuppression and its impact on protective immunity versus pathogenesis.
- Analysis of regulatory gene polymorphisms in the context of infectious diseases.
Main Results:
- Parasites can modulate effector responses by inducing Treg populations.
- Tregs play a critical role in balancing protective immunity and pathogenesis during parasitic infections.
- Treg-mediated immunosuppression is a key factor in host susceptibility to parasitic infections.
Conclusions:
- Understanding Treg mechanisms is crucial for comprehending host susceptibility to parasitic infections.
- Regulatory gene polymorphisms may influence the outcome of infectious diseases.
- Targeting Treg pathways could offer new therapeutic strategies for parasitic and infectious diseases.
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