| First Author | Clough LE | Year | 2008 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 180 |
| Issue | 8 | Pages | 5393-401 |
| PubMed ID | 18390721 | Mgi Jnum | J:134257 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3785198 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.180.8.5393 |
| Citation | Clough LE, et al. (2008) Release from regulatory T cell-mediated suppression during the onset of tissue-specific autoimmunity is associated with elevated IL-21. J Immunol 180(8):5393-401 |
| abstractText | The activity of regulatory T cells (Treg) is widely accepted to play a central role in preventing pathogenic immune responses against self-Ags. However, it is not clear why such regulation breaks down during the onset of autoimmunity. We have studied self-Ag-specific Treg during the induction of spontaneous diabetes. Our data reveal a shift in the balance between regulatory and pathogenic islet-reactive T cells in the pancreas-draining lymph nodes during disease onset. Treg function was not compromised during disease initiation, but instead conventional T cells showed reduced susceptibility to Treg-mediated suppression. Release from Treg suppression was associated with elevated levels of IL-21 in vivo, and provision of this cytokine abrogated Treg suppression in vitro and in vivo. These data suggest that immunological protection of a peripheral tissue by Treg can be subverted by IL-21, suggesting new strategies for intervention in autoimmunity. |
