| Summary: | Regulatory T (Treg) cells can express the transcription factors T-bet and GATA3 but the function of this expression and whether such cells represent stable subsets is still unknown. By using multiple reporter tools, we show that the expression of T-bet and GATA3 in Treg cells is dynamically influenced by the cytokine environment. Treg cell-specific deletion of either Tbx21 or Gata3 genes singly did not result in loss of Treg cell functions; however, mice with combined deficiency of both genes in Treg cells developed severe autoimmune-like diseases. Loss of Treg cell function was correlated with RORĪ³t transcription factor upregulation and reduced Foxp3 expression. Thus, in the steady state, activated Treg cells transiently upregulate either T-bet or GATA3 to maintain T cell homeostasis.
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