Publication
Title
Brain regulatory T cells
Author
Abstract
The brain, long thought to be isolated from the peripheral immune system, is increasingly recognized to be integrated into a systemic immunological network. These conduits of immune-brain interaction and immunosurveillance processes necessitate the presence of complementary immunoregulatory mechanisms, of which brain regulatory T cells (Treg cells) are likely a key facet. Treg cells represent a dynamic population in the brain, with continual influx, specialization to a brain-residency phenotype and relatively rapid displacement by newly incoming cells. In addition to their functions in suppressing adaptive immunity, an emerging view is that Treg cells in the brain dampen down glial reactivity in response to a range of neurological insults, and directly assist in multiple regenerative and reparative processes during tissue pathology. The utility and malleability of the brain Treg cell population make it an attractive therapeutic target across the full spectrum of neurological conditions, ranging from neuroinflammatory to neurodegenerative and even psychiatric diseases. Therapeutic modalities currently under intense development include Treg cell therapy, IL-2 therapy to boost Treg cell numbers and multiple innovative approaches to couple these therapeutics to brain delivery mechanisms for enhanced potency. Here we review the state of the art of brain Treg cell knowledge together with the potential avenues for future integration into medical practice. In this Review, Liston et al. discuss the biology of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in the brain. They consider how Treg cells are recruited to the brain and their anti-inflammatory and reparative functions in brain tissue. Finally, they highlight the potential for targeting brain Treg cells to treat a range of neurological diseases.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Nature reviews immunology. - London
Publication
Berlin : Nature portfolio , 2024
ISSN
1474-1733 [Print]
1474-1741 [Online]
DOI
10.1038/S41577-023-00960-Z
Volume/pages
24 :5 (2024) , p. 326-337
ISI
001111975000001
Pubmed ID
38040953
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 09.01.2024
Last edited 26.06.2024
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