Type 1 diabetes-associated autoantigen-specific regulatory T cell (T1D-specific Treg)

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) specific for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)-associated autoantigens are a specialized subset of CD4+ T lymphocytes that play a pivotal role in maintaining peripheral tolerance to pancreatic islet beta cells. In patients with T1D, there is a functional deficiency or an imbalance between these protective Tregs and pathogenic effector T cells, leading to the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing cells (Bluestone et al., 2015). These specific Tregs recognize autoantigens such as insulin, glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65), and zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8) via their T-cell receptors (TCRs). Therapeutic strategies aim to restore this balance by expanding these cells ex vivo for re-infusion or inducing them in vivo using low-dose IL-2 and antigen-specific vaccines (Battaglia et al., 2017). These cells function by secreting anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10 and TGF-beta and by directly suppressing the activation of auto-reactive lymphocytes. Enhancing the activity or number of these antigen-specific Tregs represents a precision medicine approach to halting T1D progression while minimizing systemic immunosuppression (Simmons et al., 2021).

Other names

Islet-specific regulatory T cellAutoantigen-specific regulatory T cellIslet-reactive TregCD4+CD25+Foxp3+ islet-specific T cell

Suppression of auto-reactive T cell activation, secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, TGF-beta), and competitive consumption of IL-2