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Role of regulatory T cells in rheumatoid arthritis: facts and hypothesis

Autoimmunity Highlightsvolume 1, pages45–51 (2010) | Download Citation

Abstract

Regulatory T cells (Treg) are a CD4+ lymphocyte subset involved in self-tolerance and autoimmunity prevention. There is evidence for a phenotypic and/or functional impairment of this cell subset during the natural history of several chronic autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although the intracellular transcription factor FoxP3 is thought to be the master regulator of Treg cell function, a number of other molecules expressed on the cell surface have been proposed for the identification of Treg cells. This is important in order to favour their possible selective isolation and in the development of new therapeutic strategies. In the present paper, available data on phenotypic and functional characterization of Treg cells in both peripheral blood and synovial fluid from RA patients are reviewed and their possible pathogenic role in triggering and perpetuating rheumatoid joint inflammation is discussed.

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Affiliations

  1. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, via E. dal Pozzo, Perugia, I-06122, Italy

    • Alessia Alunno
    • , Elena Bartoloni
    • , Onelia Bistoni
    •  & Roberto Gerli

  2. Section of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Chemotherapy, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, I-06122, Perugia, Italy

    • Giuseppe Nocentini
    • , Simona Ronchetti
    • , Maria Grazia Petrillo
    •  & Carlo Riccardi

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Correspondence to Roberto Gerli.

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Keywords

  • Treg cells
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • FoxP3 GITR

Autoimmunity Highlights

ISSN: 2038-3274

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