Regulatory T cell plasticity: beyond the controversies

Trends Immunol. 2011 Jul;32(7):295-300. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2011.04.004. Epub 2011 Jun 2.

Abstract

Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells represent a distinct cell lineage that is committed to suppressive functions, whose stable differentiation state ensures the robustness of self-tolerance and immune homeostasis in a changing environment. Recent studies have challenged this notion and suggest that Treg cells retain developmental plasticity to be reprogrammed to Foxp3(-) helper T cells in response to extrinsic perturbations such as inflammation and lymphopenia. This issue of Treg cell plasticity, however, remains controversial because other recent reports argue against the plasticity phenomena. Here, I propose that the controversies can be resolved by considering the heterogeneity model of plasticity, which hypothesizes that the observed plasticity does not reflect lineage reprogramming of Treg cells but rather a minor population of uncommitted Foxp3(+) T cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Lineage
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / immunology
  • Humans
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / cytology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*

Substances

  • Forkhead Transcription Factors