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Updated: Oct 19, 2025

Development of Stem Cell-derived Antigen-specific Regulatory T Cells Against Autoimmunity
Published on: November 8, 2016
Regulatory T Cells in Autoimmunity and Cancer: A Duplicitous Lifestyle
Aikaterini Hatzioannou1, Athina Boumpas2, Miranta Papadopoulou2
1Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Abstract:
Regulatory T (Treg) cells, possess a strategic role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis, and their function has been closely linked to development of diverse pathologies including autoimmunity and cancer. Comprehensive studies in various disease contexts revealed an increased plasticity as a characteristic of Treg cells. Although Treg cell plasticity comes in various flavors, the major categories enclose the loss of Foxp3 expression, which is the master regulator of Treg cell lineage, giving rise to "ex-Treg" cells and the "fragile" Treg cells in which FOXP3 expression is retained but accompanied by the engagement of an inflammatory program and attenuation of the suppressive activity. Treg cell plasticity possess a tremendous therapeutic potential either by inducing Treg cell de-stabilization to promote anti-tumor immunity, or re-enforcing Treg cell stability to attenuate chronic inflammation. Herein, we review the literature on the Treg cell plasticity with lessons learned in autoimmunity and cancer and discuss challenges and open questions with potential therapeutic implications.
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