Regulatory T Cells are Suppressors of Autoreactive Effectors and Inhibit Depigmentation
Regulatory T (Treg) cells and effector T cells are key factors in maintaining appropriate peripheral tolerance. Treg cells are a subgroup of CD4+ T cells that primarily represent a phenotype of CD4+, CD25+ and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3). They have a vital role in controlling autoimmunity by maintaining immunological unresponsiveness to self-antigens, playing a key role in preventing autoimmunity.
Patients who suffer from immuno- dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked syndrome lack Treg cells because of a mutation in the FOXP3 gene and as a consequence suffer from other autoimmune diseases, including vitiligo [77]. Likewise, scurfy mutant mouse strain with defective FOXP3 lack Treg cells and shows widespread autoimmunity, underlining a critical role for Treg cells in maintenance of tolerance to self-antigens [78].