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Restoration of established systemic inflammation and autoimmunity by Foxp3+ regulatory T cells

Cellular & Molecular Immunology volume 19, pages 133–135 (2022)Cite this article

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Immune tolerance ensures the disease-free status of an individual by preventing the appearance of pathological conditions, such as autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Among the various players implicated in the maintenance of immune tolerance, CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells that express the X-linked transcription factor Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) play a major role. FoxP3 governs the functions of Treg cells. In fact, a deficiency in Treg cells due to mutations in FoxP3 leads to fatal autoimmune and inflammatory conditions in humans called immunodysregulation polyendocrinopathy enteropathy x-linked (IPEX) syndrome. Similar observations have also been made in mice, in which FoxP3 deficiency leads to autoimmune pathology and death early in life. In addition, various mutations in Treg-associated immunoregulatory molecules lead to inflammatory conditions [1].

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Fig. 1: Foxp3-mediated Treg function in an established systemic inflammation and autoimmune condition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology & Microbiology, School of Sciences, Noida International University-NIU, Gautam Budh Nagar-201 308, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Varun Kumar Sharma

  2. Department of Biological Sciences and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad, Palakkad, 678 623, India

    Jagadeesh Bayry

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  1. Varun Kumar Sharma
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VKS and JB performed the literature search and analyses and drafted the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Jagadeesh Bayry.

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Sharma, V.K., Bayry, J. Restoration of established systemic inflammation and autoimmunity by Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. Cell Mol Immunol 19, 133–135 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41423-021-00831-4

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