Reviews

FOXP3 Complex and Its Function in Regulatory T Cells

  • KONG Chao ,
  • LI Dan ,
  • CHEN Zuojia ,
  • PICCION Miranda ,
  • YUAN Xiaojun ,
  • LI Bin
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  • 1. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Bio-energy Crops, College of Life Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China;
    2. Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institute Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China

Received date: 2014-01-22

  Revised date: 2014-03-11

  Online published: 2014-06-06

Abstract

FOXP3+CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells(FOXP3+Tregs)belong to a specific subset of CD4+ T cells which modulate many immune responses and play an indispensable role in maintaining immune homeostasis in vivo. Many major human diseases such as the autoimmune disease, the infectious disease, the allergic disease, the transplanting rejection and the cancers are associated with the dysfunction of the Tregs. The forkhead family transcription factor FOXP3 is a master regulator in the development and functions of the Tregs. Recently, a common conclusion is shared by many reseachers that the FOXP3 is not a solo transcription factor, it interacts with some other transcription factors such as the STAT3 and the RORγt to form a complex, to dynamically modulate the specific gene transcription progress. Furthermore, many studies including those of our laboratory demonstrate that posttranslational modification of the FOXP3 also plays an important role in the functions of the Tregs. In summary, further understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of the FOXP3+Treg function by inflammation will lead a novel therapeutic clue for conquering major human diseases.

Cite this article

KONG Chao , LI Dan , CHEN Zuojia , PICCION Miranda , YUAN Xiaojun , LI Bin . FOXP3 Complex and Its Function in Regulatory T Cells[J]. Science & Technology Review, 2014 , 32(15) : 73 -79 . DOI: 10.3981/j.issn.1000-7857.2014.15.011

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