| First Author | Stephens GL | Year | 2007 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 178 |
| Issue | 11 | Pages | 6901-11 |
| PubMed ID | 17513739 | Mgi Jnum | J:147842 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3842277 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.178.11.6901 |
| Citation | Stephens GL, et al. (2007) Distinct subsets of FoxP3+ regulatory T cells participate in the control of immune responses. J Immunol 178(11):6901-11 |
| abstractText | Expression of the transcription factor FoxP3 is the hallmark of regulatory T cells that play a crucial role in dampening immune responses. A comparison of the development and phenotype of FoxP3(+) T cells in relation to the expression of conventional MHC molecules facilitated the identification of several distinct lineages of naive and effector/memory populations of Foxp3(+) T cells. One subpopulation of effector/memory Foxp3(+) T cells develops in the thymic medulla, whereas the second is thymic independent. Both lineages display a distinct activated phenotype, undergo extensive steady-state proliferation, home to sites of acute inflammation, and are unique in their capacity to mediate Ag-nonspecific suppression of T cell activation directly ex vivo. Effector FoxP3(+) T cells may act as a sentinel of tolerance, providing a first line of defense against potentially harmful responses by rapidly suppressing immunity to peripheral self-Ags. |
