Department of Experimental Immunology, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan.
Immunity. 2013 Mar 21;38(3):414-23. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2013.03.002.
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are a developmentally and functionally distinct T cell subpopulation that is engaged in sustaining immunological self-tolerance and homeostasis. The transcription factor Foxp3 plays a key role in Treg cell development and function. However, expression of Foxp3 alone is not sufficient for conferring and maintaining Treg cell function and phenotype. Complementing the insufficiency, Treg-cell-specific epigenetic changes are also critical in the process of Treg cell specification, in regulating its potential plasticity, and hence in establishing a stable lineage. Understanding how epigenetic alterations and Foxp3 expression coordinately control Treg-cell-specific gene regulation will enable better control of immune responses by targeting the generation and maintenance of Treg cells.
调节性 T（Treg）细胞是一种在发育和功能上不同的 T 细胞亚群，参与维持免疫耐受和内稳态。转录因子 Foxp3 在 Treg 细胞的发育和功能中发挥关键作用。然而，Foxp3 的表达本身不足以赋予和维持 Treg 细胞的功能和表型。为了弥补这种不足，Treg 细胞特异性的表观遗传变化在 Treg 细胞的特化过程中也至关重要，调节其潜在的可塑性，从而建立稳定的谱系。了解表观遗传改变和 Foxp3 表达如何协调控制 Treg 细胞特异性基因调控，将使通过靶向 Treg 细胞的产生和维持来更好地控制免疫反应成为可能。
