Abstract
Down-regulation of immune responses by regulatory T cells is one of the major mechanisms involved in the induction of tolerance to self- and alloantigens as demonstrated in a number of models of transplantation and autoimmunity. It is clear that regulatory T cells consist of different subsets. Recently a novel subset of antigen-specific αβ-TCR+ CD4–CD8– (double negative, DN) regulatory T cells has been found to be able to inhibit the function of the CD8+ T cells carrying the same T cell receptor specificity and prevent the rejection of skin allografts. Identification of the DN regulatory T cells and their novel mechanism of suppression can help us to understand how donor-specific transplantation tolerance can be achieved and to explain how tolerance to self-antigens can be maintained in the periphery.
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Zhang, Z., Young, K. & Zhang, L. CD3+CD4–CD8– αβ-TCR+ T cell as immune regulatory cell. J Mol Med 79, 419–427 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001090100238
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s001090100238