Regulatory T Cells and Clinical Application

The immune system reacts vigorously to foreign invaders such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and parasites, and yet shows unresponsiveness to our own proteins. In the past decade, several types of T lymphocytes in the immune system have been discovered to function as regulatory cells to suppress unwanted immune responses to self-proteins, leading to the protection of autoimmunity. Furthermore, regulatory T cells also protect us from the development of asthma allergy, and prevent organ transplantation rejection.

“Regulatory T Cells and Clinical Application” provides a comprehensive view of all types of regulatory T cells described so far in the literature. By thoroughly reviewing the immunobiology of regulatory T cells and their implications in various forms of human diseases, a new perspective of therapy using regulatory T cells as individualized medicine to treat inflammatory diseases including diabetes, allergy and transplantation rejection is highlighted.