Regulatory T Cell Immunotherapy in Immune-Mediated Diseases

Abstract

Broad clinical interest rapidly followed the recent discovery of different subpopulations of T cells that have immune regulatory properties, and a number of studies have been conducted aiming to dissect the translational potential of these promising cells. In this review, we will focus on forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) positive regulatory T cells, T regulatory type 1 cells, and invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT). We will analyze their ability to correct immune dysregulation in animal models of immune-mediated diseases, and we will examine the first clinical approaches where these cells have been directly or indirectly employed. We will discuss successes, challenges, and limitations that rose in the road to the clinical use of regulatory T cells.