The Phenotypic Markers of CD4+CD25+ T Regulatory Lymphocytes

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a principal role in immune reactions including autoimmunity, transplantation tolerance, anti-infectious immunity and cancer. These cells represent about <5% of the peripheral CD4+ T cell population and play a crucial role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis against selfantigens [1, 2]. Numerical or functional deficit of Treg cells is linked to many autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis [3], multiple sclerosis or type 1 diabetes. These Treg features result from their potent capacity to reduce the activation and expansion of conventional T cells [4] by suppressing their biological activities like proliferation and blocking the production of proinflammatory cytokines TNF alpha and IFNgamma, among others [5]. Abstract