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Role of regulatory T cells in gastrointestinal inflammatory disease
Author(s) -
Van Driel Ian R,
Ang Desmond KY
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2007.05278.x
Subject(s) - immune system , immunology , regulatory t cell , inflammatory bowel disease , medicine , regulatory b cells , autoimmune gastritis , disease , helicobacter pylori , chronic gastritis , autoimmune disease , pernicious anemia , gastritis , autoimmunity , t cell , interleukin 10 , il 2 receptor , anemia , antibody , pathology
Regulatory T cells curb unwanted immune responses and regulate responses to microflora and it is now clear that regulatory T cells play an important role in a number of chronic inflammatory diseases of the gut. First, regulatory T cells are crucial in controlling immune responses to gastric autoantigens and thus preventing autoimmune gastritis and pernicious anemia. Second, regulatory T cells may modulate the response to Helicobacter pylori , thus affecting the ability of the immune system to clear the pathogen and mediate damage to the gastric mucosa. Finally, regulatory T cells play an important role in preventing damaging inflammatory responses to commensal organisms in the lower gut, thus guarding against inflammatory bowel diseases. In the present review, we examine the actions of regulatory T cells in the gut and conclude that further understanding of regulatory T cell biology may lead to new therapeutic approaches to chronic gastrointestinal disease.