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FOXP3 modifies the phenotypic and functional properties of regulatory T cells

Nature Reviews Immunology volume 7, pages 305–310 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

In the periphery, tolerance to self antigens is mainly mediated by the CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ subset of regulatory T cells, which can suppress the activity of autoreactive T cells that have escaped deletion in the thymus. The essential role of the transcription factor FOXP3 (forkhead box P3) in the development and function of these regulatory T cells has been well documented. It is also clear that regulatory T cells and effector T cells respond differently to T-cell receptor stimulation. In this Opinion article, we propose that these differences in responses are mediated by FOXP3, and are manifested by alterations in biochemical signalling pathways, patterns of gene expression and the appearance of cell-surface homing receptors.

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Figure 1: Functional domains of FOXP3.
Figure 2: Models for FOXP3-mediated regulation of T-cell activation.
Figure 3: TReg cells express various homing receptors to direct migration to different tissues and microenvironments.

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Acknowledgements

We thank M. Warren for help in preparing this manuscript. Support for this work came in part from grants from the National Institutes of Health, USA (S.F.Z. and D.J.C.), the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Collaborative Center for Cellular Therapy (S.F.Z.) and the American Diabetes Association (S.F.Z.).

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  1. and the Department of Immunology, Daniel J. Campbell and Steven F. Ziegler are at the Immunology Program, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, Washington 98101, USA, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.,

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Campbell, D., Ziegler, S. FOXP3 modifies the phenotypic and functional properties of regulatory T cells. Nat Rev Immunol 7, 305–310 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nri2061

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