Naturally occurring FoxP3⁺CD4⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells indispensable for the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance and homeostasis are instrumental in treating autoimmune and other immunological disorders. Stable function of natural Treg cells requires not only the expression of Foxp3 and other Treg signature genes such as CD25 and CTLA-4 but also the generation of Treg-specific epigenetic changes, especially Treg-specific DNA hypomethylation, at these gene loci. Recent studies have shown that the Treg-specific transcriptional and epigenetic changes can be induced in antigen-specific conventional T cells in vivo and in vitro, converting them to functionally stable Treg cells. Such natural or induced Treg cells bear the potential to achieve stable antigen-specific immune suppression and reestablish immunological self-tolerance in treating and preventing autoimmune diseases.

天然存在的 FoxP3 ⁺ CD4 ⁺调节性 T (Treg) 细胞对于维持免疫自我耐受和体内平衡必不可少，有助于治疗自身免疫和其他免疫疾病。天然 Treg 细胞的稳定功能不仅需要 Foxp3 和其他 Treg 特征基因如 CD25 和 CTLA-4 的表达，还需要在这些基因位点产生 Treg 特异性表观遗传变化，尤其是 Treg 特异性 DNA 低甲基化。最近的研究表明，抗原特异性常规 T 细胞在体内和体外均可诱导 Treg 特异性转录和表观遗传变化。，将它们转化为功能稳定的 Treg 细胞。这种天然或诱导的 Treg 细胞具有在治疗和预防自身免疫性疾病方面实现稳定的抗原特异性免疫抑制和重建免疫自我耐受的潜力。