Regulation of the adaptive immune response is critical for health. Regulatory activity can be found in multiple components of the immune system, however, the focus on particular components of the immune regulatory network has left many aspects of this critical immune component understudied. Here we review the evidence for activities of CD8+ T cells in immune homeostasis and regulation of autoimmune reactivity. The heterogeneous nature of identified CD8+ cell types are examined, and common phenotypes associated with functional activities are defined. The varying types of antigen signal crucial for CD8+ T cell regulatory activity are identified and the implications of these activation pathways for control of adaptive responses is considered. Finally, the promising capacity for transgenic antigen receptor directed cytotoxicity as a mechanism for modulation of autoimmunity is detailed.

调节适应性免疫反应对健康至关重要。调节活性可以在免疫系统的多个组成部分中找到，但是，对免疫调节网络特定组成部分的关注使人们对该关键免疫组成部分的许多方面都缺乏研究。在这里，我们审查CD8 + T细胞在免疫稳态和自身免疫反应的调节活动的证据。检查已鉴定的CD8 +细胞类型的异质性，并定义与功能活性相关的常见表型。确定了对CD8 + T细胞调节活性至关重要的抗原信号的各种类型，并考虑了这些激活途径对控制适应性反应的影响。最后，