AUTHOR=Xu Zheng , Ho Sophey , Chang Chih-Chao , Zhang Qing-Yin , Vasilescu Elena-Rodica , Vlad George , Suciu-Foca Nicole 

TITLE=Molecular and Cellular Characterization of Human CD8 T Suppressor Cells

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=Volume 7 - 2016

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2016.00549

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2016.00549

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=Bidirectional interactions between dendritic cells (DC) and Ag-experienced T cells initiate either a tolerogenic or immunogenic pathway. The outcome of these interactions is of crucial importance in malignancy, transplantation, and autoimmune diseases. Blockade of co-stimulation results in the induction of T helper cell anergy and subsequent differentiation of antigen specific CD8+ T suppressor/regulatory cells (Ts). Ts. Primed in the presence of inhibitory signals exert their inhibitory function in an antigen specific manner, a feature with tremendous clinical potential. In transplantation or autoimmunity, antigen specific Ts can enforce tolerance to auto- or alloantigens, while otherwise leaving the immune response to pathogens uninhibited. Alternatively, blockade of inhibitory receptors results in the generation of cytolytic CD8+ T cells (CTL), which is vital towards defense against tumors and viral diseases. Because CD8 T cells are MHC Class I restricted, they are able to recognize HLA-bound antigenic peptides presented not only by APC, but also on parenchymal cells, thus eliciting or suppressing auto- or allo- immune reactions.