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Regulatory T cells: present facts and future hopes

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Abstract

Naturally occurring CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and several subsets of induced suppressor T cells are key players of the immune tolerance network and control the induction and effector phase of our immunological defense system. These T cell populations actively control the properties of other immune cells by suppressing their functional activity to prevent autoimmunity and transplant rejection but also influence the immune response to allergens as well as against tumor cells and pathogens. Even though we are far from completely understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that manage the different regulatory T cell populations, increasing evidence exists about their functional importance. The knowledge on their induction and activation opens the possibility for their selective manipulation in vivo as an attractive approach for an immunotherapy of unwanted immune responses. This review summarizes this knowledge and discusses the potential of regulatory T cells for novel immunointervention strategies in the future.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Jan Kubach, Dr E. von Stebut, and Dr J. Knop for critical reading of this manuscript and helpful discussions. This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft grant SFB548-A6 (to E. Schmitt) and grant SFB548-A8 (to H. Jonuleit).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55101, Mainz, Germany

    Christian Becker, Sabine Stoll & Helmut Jonuleit

  2. Institute of Immunology of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany

    Tobias Bopp & Edgar Schmitt

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  1. Christian Becker
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  2. Sabine Stoll
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  3. Tobias Bopp
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  4. Edgar Schmitt
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  5. Helmut Jonuleit
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Correspondence to Helmut Jonuleit.

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Becker, C., Stoll, S., Bopp, T. et al. Regulatory T cells: present facts and future hopes. Med Microbiol Immunol 195, 113–124 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00430-006-0017-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00430-006-0017-y

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