Mechanisms of T Cell Regulation

Regulatory T cells (Treg) expressing the transcription factor Foxp3 are T cells which, in healthy individuals, keep CD4+ T cells in check. In patients with autoimmune diseases, Tregs are not as effective as in healthy individuals, and CD4+ T cells have an effector/memory phenotype and produce cytokines such as IFN-g, IL-17 and GM-CSF. Although the mechanisms by which Tregs control naïve CD4+ T cells have been well described, the mechanisms by which Tregs control effector/memory Th1, Th17 cells is not well understood.

The Bettelli Lab has discovered that Th cells producing IFN-g, IL-17 and GM-CSF are differentially regulated by Tregs during the course of central nervous system (CNS) autoimmunity. Ongoing research in the laboratory focus on determining the mechanisms by which Tregs can control efficiently and specifically effector/memory T cells producing IFN-g, IL-17 or GM-CSF and how these effector/memory T cells can themselves impact Treg functions.