幹細胞研究と治療のジャーナル

概要

T-Regulatory Cells: The Recently Recognized Players of Immunomodulation

Vanikar AV and Trivedi HL

Recently a subpopulation of T cells known as regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been identified to play important role of immunomodulation in autoimmune diseases, cancer and also in transplantation immunobiology. Tregs have been identified as biomarkers for graft function status. We have generated Tregs in vitro and also used them in kidney transplantation. We have found their efficacy in safe minimization of immunosuppression in kidney transplantation. Tregs are likely to form an integral part of cell therapy which will completely change the field of clinical transplantation. However there is a wide chasm between basic cell biologists and immunobiologists (who understand the significance of Tregs) and clinicians (who do not appreciate the bedside role of Tregs). This review article discusses the genesis of Tregs, their identification markers and their diagnostic and therapeutic role in transplantation immunobiology.