Abstract

In addition to generating effective immunity against infectious agents, the immune system helps to fight against different noninfectious human diseases while maintaining the balance between self and non-self discrimination. The breakdown of tolerance in autoimmune diseases or sustainable tolerance in an abnormal microenvironment such as chronic inflammation may initiate the process of malignancy. Immune system regulation is controlled by a complex, dynamic network of cells and mediators. Understanding the cellular and molecular basis of immune regulation provides better insight into the mechanisms governing the immune pathology of diseases. Among several cellular subsets and mediators with regulatory roles, a subpopulation of CD4⁺ T cells was recently reported to be positive for FoxP3 and negative for CD25, with a suggested range of functional activities in both cancer and autoimmune diseases. This CD4 subset was first reported in 2006 and thought to have a role in the pathogenesis of cancer. However, the spectrum of roles played by this T cell subset is broad, and no consensus has been reached regarding its immunological functions. In this review, we focused on the possible origin of CD4⁺CD25^‒FoxP3⁺ T cells and their function in cancer and autoimmune diseases.

摘要

除了对传染性病原体产生有效的免疫力外，免疫系统还有助于对抗不同的非传染性人类疾病，同时保持自我和非自我歧视之间的平衡。自身免疫性疾病耐受性的破坏或慢性炎症等异常微环境中的可持续耐受性可能引发恶性肿瘤的进程。免疫系统调节由一个复杂的、动态的细胞和介质网络控制。了解免疫调节的细胞和分子基础可以更好地了解控制疾病免疫病理的机制。在几个具有调节作用的细胞亚群和介质中，CD4 ⁺最近有报道称 T 细胞对 FoxP3 呈阳性，对 CD25 呈阴性，在癌症和自身免疫性疾病中具有建议的功能活动范围。该 CD4 子集于 2006 年首次报道，并被认为在癌症的发病机制中起作用。然而，该 T 细胞亚群所起的作用范围很广，关于其免疫功能尚未达成共识。在这篇综述中，我们重点研究了 CD4 ⁺ CD25 ^‒ FoxP3 ⁺ T 细胞的可能起源及其在癌症和自身免疫性疾病中的功能。