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💀anatomy and physiology i review

Regulatory T Cells (Tregs)

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Regulatory T cells, or Tregs, are a specialized subset of T cells that play a crucial role in maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing autoimmune diseases. They are essential for controlling the immune response and promoting tolerance to self-antigens, making them a key component in the context of transplantation and cancer immunology.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Tregs express the transcription factor Foxp3, which is essential for their development and suppressive function.
  2. Tregs can suppress the activation and proliferation of effector T cells, B cells, and other immune cells, thereby preventing excessive or inappropriate immune responses.
  3. Tregs play a crucial role in maintaining self-tolerance and preventing autoimmune diseases by suppressing autoreactive T cells.
  4. In the context of transplantation, Tregs help to prevent rejection of transplanted organs by suppressing the immune response against the foreign tissue.
  5. Tregs can also inhibit anti-tumor immune responses, which can be a barrier to effective cancer immunotherapy, but they can also be harnessed to enhance the efficacy of cancer treatments.

Review Questions

  • Explain the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing autoimmune diseases.
    • Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a specialized subset of T cells that play a crucial role in maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing autoimmune diseases. Tregs express the transcription factor Foxp3, which is essential for their development and suppressive function. Tregs can suppress the activation and proliferation of effector T cells, B cells, and other immune cells, thereby preventing excessive or inappropriate immune responses. This suppressive function of Tregs is essential for maintaining self-tolerance and preventing autoimmune diseases by keeping autoreactive T cells in check.
  • Describe the importance of Tregs in the context of transplantation and cancer immunology.
    • In the context of transplantation, regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in preventing rejection of transplanted organs. Tregs can suppress the immune response against the foreign tissue, helping to maintain tolerance and acceptance of the transplant. On the other hand, in the context of cancer immunology, Tregs can inhibit anti-tumor immune responses, which can be a barrier to effective cancer immunotherapy. However, Tregs can also be harnessed to enhance the efficacy of cancer treatments by suppressing the immune response that can lead to autoimmune side effects or by modulating the tumor microenvironment to make it more responsive to immunotherapies.
  • Analyze the potential therapeutic applications of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the management of autoimmune diseases, transplant rejection, and cancer immunotherapy.
    • Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have significant therapeutic potential in the management of various medical conditions. In autoimmune diseases, the suppressive function of Tregs can be harnessed to restore immune homeostasis and prevent the immune system from attacking the body's own tissues. In the context of transplantation, Tregs can be used to promote tolerance and prevent rejection of transplanted organs, potentially reducing the need for lifelong immunosuppressive therapy. Furthermore, in cancer immunology, Tregs can be modulated to enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies by either suppressing the immune response that can lead to autoimmune side effects or by altering the tumor microenvironment to make it more responsive to treatment. The therapeutic applications of Tregs are an active area of research, and advancements in this field could lead to improved outcomes for patients with autoimmune disorders, transplant recipients, and those undergoing cancer immunotherapy.