iTreg
iTreg, short for inducible regulatory T cell, refers to a subset of CD4+ regulatory T cells generated from conventional naive T cells in the periphery in response to antigenic stimulation under tolerogenic conditions. Unlike thymus-derived Tregs (nTregs or tTregs), iTregs arise outside the thymus during ongoing immune responses and can populate mucosal tissues and sites of inflammation. The defining functional feature is the capacity to suppress autoreactive and effector T cell responses, helping maintain peripheral tolerance.
Induction of iTregs occurs both in vivo and in vitro. Differentiation is driven by T cell receptor
Stability and epigenetics are important considerations. The methylation status of the Treg-specific demethylated region (TSDR) serves
Clinical relevance and research focus on iTregs include potential applications in autoimmune disease, transplantation tolerance, graft-versus-host