Journal Article

CD8 super(+) Tregs in autoimmunity: learning \self\-control from experience

Clemente-Casares, Xavier, Tsai, Sue, Santamaria, Pere

2011

Overview

Autoreactive CD8 super(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) play important roles as modulators of immune responses against self, and numerical and functional defects in CD8 super(+) Tregs have been linked to autoimmunity. Several subsets of CD8 super(+) Tregs have been described. However, the origin of these T cells and how they participate in the natural progression of autoimmunity remain poorly defined. We discuss several lines of evidence suggesting that the autoimmune process itself promotes the development of autoregulatory CD8 super(+) T cells. We posit that chronic autoantigenic exposure fosters the differentiation of non-pathogenic autoreactive CD8 super(+) T cells into antigen-experienced, memory-like autoregulatory T cells, to generate a \"negative feedback\" regulatory loop capable of countering pathogenic autoreactive effectors. This hypothesis predicts that approaches capable of boosting autoregulatory T cell memory will be able to blunt autoimmunity without compromising systemic immunity.

• Subject: Autoimmunity