Foxp3 expression is not stable and may be extinguished both in vitro and in vivo in regulatory T cells that convert into proinflammatory effector T cells. The loss of Foxp3 in regulatory T cells under autoimmune conditions may result in the conversion of suppressor T cells into highly autoaggressive lymphocytes.
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Hawiger, D., Flavell, R. Regulatory T cells that become autoaggressive. Nat Immunol 10, 938–939 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni0909-938
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ni0909-938
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