Immune modulation via regulatory T cell

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a specialized subpopulation of CD4+ T lymphocytes that play a central role in maintaining immune homeostasis and self-tolerance. They actively suppress the activation and proliferation of other immune cells, thereby preventing autoimmune diseases, moderating chronic inflammation, and limiting excessive immune responses to pathogens or environmental insults. Tregs employ multiple mechanisms to modulate immune responses, including secretion of inhibitory cytokines, induction of apoptosis, cell-to-cell contact inhibition, and metabolic disruption. Understanding how to modulate regulatory T cell function has significant translational potential for treating autoimmunity, cancer, and other diseases.

Other names

Treg modulationRegulatory T cell suppressionTreg-mediated immunosuppression

Tregs employ multiple mechanisms to modulate immune responses including secretion of inhibitory cytokines (IL-10, TGF-β, IL-35), induction of apoptosis in effector immune cells (Granzyme B), cell-to-cell contact inhibition (CTLA‐4, TIGIT, LAG3), induction of immunosuppressive enzymes in dendritic cells (IDO), and generation of adenosine via CD39/CD73 pathway.