Regulatory T cells in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Autoantibodies are associated with various autoimmune diseases. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoan-tibody-associated autoimmune disease which affects multiple organs. Although both genetic and environmental factors are implicated in lupus pathogenesis, the etiology of the disease remains elusive. The discovery of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) that characteristically express forkhead box p3 (Foxp3) gene have greatly advanced our understanding of immune systems in autoimmune diseases. CD4+ Tregs can be classified into two main populations: thymus-derived naturally occurring Tregs (nTregs) and induced Tregs (iTregs) generated from CD4+CD25- precursors in the periphery. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that these Tregs play important roles in the regulation of humoral immune responses. In this review, we discuss recent findings on the role of Tregs in SLE.