Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada; Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec H1T 2M4, Canada.
J Autoimmun. 2013 Feb;40:58-65. doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2012.07.010. Epub 2012 Aug 19.
Double negative T cells that lack the expression of both CD4 and CD8 T cell co-receptors exhibit a most unique antigen-specific immunoregulatory potential first described over a decade ago. Due to their immunoregulatory function, this rare T cell population has been studied in both mice and humans for their contribution to peripheral tolerance and disease prevention. Consequently, double negative cells are gaining interest as a potential cellular therapeutic. Herein, we review the phenotype and function of double negative T cells with emphasis on their capacity to induce antigen-specific immune tolerance. While the phenotypic and functional similarities between double negative T cells identified in mouse and humans are highlighted, we also call attention to the need for a specific marker of double negative T cells, which will facilitate future studies in humans. Altogether, due to their unique properties, double negative T cells present a promising therapeutic potential in the context of various disease settings.
双阴性 T 细胞既缺乏 CD4 和 CD8 T 细胞共受体的表达，又表现出一种独特的抗原特异性免疫调节潜能，这一特性在十多年前首次被描述。由于其免疫调节功能，这种罕见的 T 细胞群体已在小鼠和人类中进行了研究，以了解其在外周耐受和疾病预防中的作用。因此，双阴性细胞作为一种潜在的细胞治疗方法正受到关注。本文综述了双阴性 T 细胞的表型和功能，重点介绍了其诱导抗原特异性免疫耐受的能力。虽然强调了在小鼠和人类中鉴定的双阴性 T 细胞在表型和功能上的相似性，但我们也呼吁注意需要一种双阴性 T 细胞的特异性标志物，这将有助于未来在人类中的研究。总的来说，由于其独特的特性，双阴性 T 细胞在各种疾病环境中具有有前途的治疗潜力。
