Research: T-cell control

29 November 2005

Regulatory T cells have been found to limit the risk of autoimmune disease provoked by weak antigens. T cells recognising foreign antigens can cross-react with the body's own structures and therefore have the potential to cause autoimmune disease. Work in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis suggests that these T cells, when exposed to weakly cross-reactive foreign antigens, are prevented from becoming autoaggressive by the action of regulatory T cells. This highlights the importance of regulatory T cells in maintaining a diverse T-cell repertoire without increasing the risk of autoimmune disease.

External links

• Stephens LA et al. CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells limit the risk of autoimmune disease arising from T cell receptor crossreactivity. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2005;102(48):17418–23