Understanding Suppressor T Cells - The Immune System Regulators

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What are Suppressor T cells?

Suppressor T cells, also referred to as regulatory T cells, play a vital role in our immune system. These cells, often denoted as T _reg , are primarily responsible for maintaining tolerance to self-antigens and preventing autoimmune diseases. Their primary function is to suppress the activation and proliferation of effector T cells, hence the name suppressor T cells. They share a common lineage with naive CD4 ⁺ cells, making their differentiation quite challenging. Yet, a cytokine known as TGF-β aids in maintaining the homeostasis of T _reg cells and distinguishing them from CD4 ⁺ cells.

Population of Suppressor T Cells

Suppressor T cells constitute a significant part of our immune system. They are responsible for suppressing the response of other immune cells, acting as a self-check mechanism that prevents excessive reactions. These T _reg cells exist in various forms, expressing CD25, CD4, and FOXP3 regulatory cells. Their primary function is to halt the ongoing immune response once the invading pathogen has been eliminated and to prevent autoimmune reactions.

Functions

Autoimmune diseases arise when our immune system fails to differentiate between self and non-self, leading to the destruction of our own tissues and cells. T _reg cells play a crucial role in suppressing the immune reaction and self-reactivity of the immune system. The exact mechanism of suppression by suppressor T cells is not fully understood, but the following are some proposed mechanisms:

• They suppress the immune response by secreting inhibitory cytokines , such as IL-35, IL-10, and TGF-β.
• They produce a protein called Granzyme B that induces apoptosis in effector T cells.
• They interact directly with dendritic cells to induce reverse signalling and produce an immunosuppressive compound called indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.
• They trigger IL-2 negative feedback loops to alert the T _reg cells about high immune activity, thereby inducing an immunosuppressive action.

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