engleski

Regulatory T cell monitoring in allergic diseases

Regulatory T-cells are subset of T cells that are important for the maintenance of peripheral tolerance, and also have important role in various clinical conditions such as allergy, autoimmune disorders, tumors, infections and in transplant medicine. Basically, this population has suppressive effect on neighboring immune cells, therefore contributing to the local modulation and control of immune reaction. There are two main populations of regulatory T cells – natural regulatory T cells, which form distinct cellular lineage, develop in thymus and perform their modulatory action through direct intercellular contact, along with the secreted cytokines. Second population are inducible regulatory T cells, which develop in the periphery after contact with the antigen that is presented on the antigen presenting cell and their primary mode of action is through the cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β . Because regulatory T cells have important role in establishing peripheral tolerance, their importance is manifested in number of clinical conditions. In different types of allergic reactions and in autoimmune diseases, a reduced number or functional activity of these cells has been described. In addition, the capacity of regulatory T cells to inhibit immune reaction enables certain pathogens and tumors to avoid immune surveillance, and this may lead to the development of the disease. Simultaneous analysis of surface and intracellular markers of regulatory T cells using multiparameter flow cytometry analysis as well as the in vitro assessment of their suppressive activity are methods used in the monitoring of regulatory T cells in patients. This approach is important for the understanding of immunopathogenesis of allergic diseases as well as in the evaluation of the possible effects of existing and new therapies in these diseases.

regulatory T cells; flow cytometry; allergy

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