Regulatory T cells are capable of suppressing deleterious immune responses against self- or non-self-antigens. Their essential role in tolerance and immune regulation has been illustrated by recent findings that mutations in the Foxp3 gene leads to the defective development of regulatory T cells and the emergence of a fatal autoimmune, inflammatory and allergic disease. This review discusses the critical role for this transcription factor in the development and function of regulatory T cells.
Research Unit for Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan. shohei@rcai.riken.jp
