Control of Regulatory T Cell Development by the Transcription Factor Foxp3

S Hori, T Nomura, S Sakaguchi - Science, 2003 - science.org
S Hori, T Nomura, S Sakaguchi
Science, 2003science.org
Regulatory T cells engage in the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance by actively
suppressing self-reactive lymphocytes. Little is known, however, about the molecular
mechanism of their development. Here we show that Foxp3, which encodes a transcription
factor that is genetically defective in an autoimmune and inflammatory syndrome in humans
and mice, is specifically expressed in naturally arising CD4+ regulatory T cells. Furthermore,
retroviral gene transfer of Foxp3 converts naïve T cells toward a regulatory T cell …
Regulatory T cells engage in the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance by actively suppressing self-reactive lymphocytes. Little is known, however, about the molecular mechanism of their development. Here we show that Foxp3, which encodes a transcription factor that is genetically defective in an autoimmune and inflammatory syndrome in humans and mice, is specifically expressed in naturally arising CD4+ regulatory T cells. Furthermore, retroviral gene transfer of Foxp3 converts naïve T cells toward a regulatory T cell phenotype similar to that of naturally occurring CD4+ regulatory T cells. Thus, Foxp3is a key regulatory gene for the development of regulatory T cells.
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