T lymphocyte and Regulatory T lymphocyte (T cell / Treg)

T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) are central mediators of the adaptive immune system, with T cells driving pathogen clearance and Tregs maintaining immunological self-tolerance (StatPearls, NBK539780). T cells recognize antigens via the T-cell receptor (TCR) complex, while Tregs, often identified by CD25 and FOXP3 expression, suppress overactive immune responses to prevent autoimmunity (Nature Reviews Immunology, doi:10.1038/nri.2017.115). In oncology, the therapeutic goal is often to overcome T cell exhaustion or Treg-mediated immunosuppression using checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab or nivolumab (NIH, Cancer.gov). Conversely, treating autoimmune disorders and preventing transplant rejection involves suppressing effector T cells or expanding Treg populations to restore homeostasis (Frontiers in Immunology, doi:10.3389/fimmu.2020.00149). Adoptive cell therapies, such as CAR-T cells, involve the genetic modification of T cells to specifically target and eliminate malignant cells (PubMed, PMC6597542). Because this entry refers to a heterogeneous cell population and a broad physiological mechanism rather than a specific protein or receptor, it is categorized as a cellular immunomodulatory concept rather than a discrete molecular target. This distinction is important for drug discovery, as "targeting" T cells often involves multi-protein interactions or systemic modulation rather than binding to a single active site.

Other names

T cellsRegulatory T cellsTregsSuppressor T cellsEffector T cellsCellular immunomodulation

Immunomodulation via activation, exhaustion, or suppression of T cell subsets; Checkpoint inhibition; Adoptive cell transfer; Immunosuppression.