Immunoregulation in celiac disease

Celiac Disease (CD) is a T-cell mediated immune disease, in which gluten-derived peptides activate lamina propria effector CD4+ T cells. While these effector T cell subsets produce proinflammatory cytokines, which cause substantial tissue injury in vivo in CD, recent data suggest that additional subsets of CD4+ T cells exist with suppressor functions. These subsets include type 1 regulatory T cells (Tr1) and CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cells expressing the master transcription factor Foxp3, that have important implications for disease progression. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge about the immune-mediated effects of cytokines produced by suppressor Treg cells in CD and how the regulatory properties of these cells could be influenced. Correspondence to: Dr. Giuseppe Mazzarella, Institute of Food Sciences, CNR, Immuno-Morphology, via Roma 64, 83100, Avellino , Italy; E-mail: [email protected]