Pediatric Rheumatology

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Regulatory T cells and their role in rheumatic diseases: a potential target for novel therapeutic development

Diana Milojevic1*, Khoa D Nguyen2, Diane Wara1 and Elizabeth D Mellins2

Author Affiliations

1 Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA

2 Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA

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Pediatric Rheumatology 2008, 6:20 doi:10.1186/1546-0096-6-20

Published: 1 December 2008

Abstract

Regulatory T cells have an important role in limiting immune reactions and are essential regulators of self-tolerance. Among them, CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells are the best-described subset. In this article, we summarize current knowledge on the phenotype, function, and development of CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells. We also review the literature on the role of these T cells in rheumatic diseases and discuss the potential for their use in immunotherapy.