Controlling the enemy within

The constant presence of a population of ‘regulatory’ immune cells is essential for the prevention of autoimmune disease, according to a paper published in the February issue of Nature Immunology.

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Controlling the enemy within
DOI: 10.1038/ni1428

The constant presence of a population of ‘regulatory’ immune cells is essential for the prevention of autoimmune disease, according to a paper published in the February issue of Nature Immunology. Other strategies to impede autoimmunity exist, but whether they could maintain a healthy immune system in the absence of such ‘regulatory’ cells is not clear.

Alexander Rudensky and colleagues devised a way to rapidly deplete adult mice of regulatory immune cells called T regulatory (Treg) cells. Shortly after Treg cell depletion, immune cells traveled to and began damaging internal organs. All mice succumbed to that fatal autoimmune attack within 4 weeks of Treg cell depletion. These results emphasize that Treg cell function is more critical than other strategies for keeping potentially harmful cells in check.

Author contact:
Alexander Rudensky (University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA)
Tel: +1 206 685 7644; E-mail: [email protected]

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Published: 29 Nov 2006

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