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Updated: May 13, 2026
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Generation of Induced Regulatory T Cells from Primary Human Naïve and Memory T Cells
Published on: April 16, 2012
Development and maintenance of regulatory T cells
Naganari Ohkura1, Yohko Kitagawa, Shimon Sakaguchi
1Department of Experimental Immunology, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan. nohkura@ifrec.osaka-u.ac.jp
Immunity
|March 26, 2013
Summary
Regulatory T (Treg) cells maintain immune balance. Epigenetic changes, alongside Foxp3 expression, are crucial for Treg cell stability and function, offering new targets for immune control.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Regulatory T (Treg) cells are essential for maintaining immunological self-tolerance and homeostasis.
- The transcription factor Foxp3 is vital for Treg cell development and function.
- Foxp3 expression alone is insufficient for complete Treg cell specification and stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Treg-cell-specific epigenetic changes in Treg cell development and function.
- To understand how epigenetic alterations and Foxp3 expression coordinate Treg-specific gene regulation.
- To identify potential targets for controlling immune responses by modulating Treg cell generation and maintenance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Treg cell development and function.
- Investigation of epigenetic modifications in Treg cells.
- Examination of the interplay between Foxp3 and epigenetic factors in gene regulation.
Main Results:
- Epigenetic changes are critical for Treg cell specification and lineage stability.
- These epigenetic alterations complement Foxp3's role in Treg cell function.
- Coordinated action of epigenetics and Foxp3 governs Treg-specific gene expression.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic modifications are indispensable for establishing and maintaining a stable Treg cell lineage.
- Understanding the interplay between Foxp3 and epigenetics is key to harnessing Treg cells for therapeutic purposes.
- Targeting epigenetic mechanisms alongside Foxp3 offers a promising strategy for immune response modulation.
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