Stability and function of regulatory T cells is maintained by a neuropilin-1-semaphorin-4a axis.

ABSTRACT: Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) have a crucial role in the immune system by preventing autoimmunity, limiting immunopathology, and maintaining immune homeostasis. However, they also represent a major barrier to effective anti-tumour immunity and sterilizing immunity to chronic viral infections. The transcription factor Foxp3 has a major role in the development and programming of Treg cells. The relative stability of Treg cells at inflammatory disease sites has been a highly contentious subject. There is considerable interest in identifying pathways that control the stability of Treg cells as many immune-mediated diseases are characterized by either exacerbated or limited Treg-cell function. Here we show that the immune-cell-expressed ligand semaphorin-4a (Sema4a) and the Treg-cell-expresse

SUBMITTER: Delgoffe GM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3867145 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature