Regulatory T-cell directed therapies in liver diseases

Immunological self-tolerance is maintained in two stages; central and peripheral tolerance. The thymus orchestrates self-tolerance by negative selection (clonal deletion) of self-reactive T cells and by producing CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). Tregs are essential for the maintenance of peripheral self-tolerance and immune homeostasis in various tissues including the liver [1]. Depletion of Tregs in rodents result in spontaneous development of a variety of organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases and reconstitution of Tregs prevents disease development [2].