TREG-cell therapies for autoimmune rheumatic diseases

M Miyara, Y Ito, S Sakaguchi - Nature Reviews Rheumatology, 2014 - nature.com
M Miyara, Y Ito, S Sakaguchi
Nature Reviews Rheumatology, 2014nature.com
Abstract Naturally occurring Foxp3+ CD25+ CD4+ regulatory T (TREG) cells maintain
immunological self-tolerance and prevent a variety of autoimmune diseases, including
rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. In
animal models of rheumatic disease, autoimmune responses can be controlled by re-
establishing the T-cell balance in favour of TREG cells. Here we discuss three potential
strategies for the clinical use of TREG cells to treat autoimmune rheumatic disease …
Abstract
Naturally occurring Foxp3+CD25+CD4+ regulatory T (TREG) cells maintain immunological self-tolerance and prevent a variety of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. In animal models of rheumatic disease, autoimmune responses can be controlled by re-establishing the T-cell balance in favour of TREG cells. Here we discuss three potential strategies for the clinical use of TREG cells to treat autoimmune rheumatic disease: expansion of self-antigen-specific natural TREG cells in vivo; propagation of antigen-specific natural TREG cells ex vivo, by in vitro antigenic stimulation, and subsequent transfer back into the host; or conversion of antigen-specific conventional T cells into TREG cells in vivo or ex vivo. These strategies require depletion of the effector T cells that mediate autoimmunity before initiating TREG-cell-based therapies. Immunotherapies that target TREG cells, and the balance of TREG cells and autoreactive T cells, are therefore an important modality for the treatment of autoimmune rheumatic disease.
nature.com