Foxp3+CD4+ T cell-mediated immunosuppression involves extracellular nucleotide catabolism

Trends Immunol. 2008 Mar;29(3):99-102. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2007.12.005. Epub 2008 Feb 6.

Abstract

Foxp3(+)CD4(+) T cells represent a population of naturally arising suppressor T cells that are crucial for the control of autoimmune responses. The suppressive activity of this T cell subset relies on multiple mechanisms that include secretion of anti-inflammatory factors such as TGF-beta or IL-10. Novel studies now establish that, through the generation of the immunosuppressive factor adenosine, the ectoenzymes CD39 and CD73 are important contributors to the regulatory activity of Foxp3(+)CD4(+) T cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Extracellular Space / immunology
  • Extracellular Space / metabolism*
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Nucleotides / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism

Substances

  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • Nucleotides