Generation and Effector Functions of Regulatory Lymphocytes

Over the last several years, immunologists have re-discovered the importance of regulatory lymphocytes, formerly termed 'suppressor cells'. Many recent reports have documented their existence, effector functions and potential therapeutic benefits in autoimmunity and transplantation. However, even though modern techniques have allowed us to get a much more detailed picture of these cells, they are still highly controversial. Several unresolved issues responsible for this dilemma are discussed in this book: it is difficult to grow and clone such cells, their phenotypes and effector functions are diverse and can sometimes easily be lost, and it is not well understood how they interact with antigen-presenting cells. This book contains contributions from leading investigators from around the world, including lively discussion of the current state of the art in studies of regulatory lymphocytes. Topics featured are the physiological control of autoimmunity, the role of antigen-specific cells in various diseases and disease models and effector mechanisms. Therapeutic applications are considered, particularly for type 1 diabetes, tissue transplantation and the control of viral infection. This important and groundbreaking book should be of interest to all immunologists. Related Novartis Foundation symposia: 254 Immunoinformatics: bioinformatic strategies for better understanding of immune functionChair: Hans-Georg Rammensee 256 Cancer and inflammationChair: Siamon Gordon

Over the last several years, immunologists have re-discovered the importance of regulatory lymphocytes, formerly termed 'suppressor cells'. Many recent reports have documented their existence, effector functions and potential therapeutic benefits in autoimmunity and transplantation. However, even though modern techniques have allowed us to get a much more detailed picture of these cells, they are still highly controversial. Several unresolved issues responsible for this dilemma are discussed in this book: it is difficult to grow and clone such cells, their phenotypes and effector functions are diverse and can sometimes easily be lost, and it is not well understood how they interact with antigen-presenting cells.This book contains contributions from leading investigators from around the world, including lively discussion of the current state of the art in studies of regulatory lymphocytes. Topics featured are the physiological control of autoimmunity, the role of antigen-specific cells in various diseases and disease models and effector mechanisms. Therapeutic applications are considered, particularly for type 1 diabetes, tissue transplantation and the control of viral infection. This important and groundbreaking book should be of interest to all immunologists.Related Novartis Foundation symposia:254 Immunoinformatics: bioinformatic strategies for better understanding of immune functionChair: Hans-Georg Rammensee256 Cancer and inflammationChair: Siamon Gordon

Chair's Introduction (J. Bach).Thymic generation and selection ofCD25¯+CD4¯+ regulatory T cells; implicaitons oftheir broad repertoire and high self-reactivity for the maintenanceof immunological self-tolerance (S. Sakaguchi, et al. ).Control of Tcell activation by CD4¯+CD25¯+suppressor T cells (E.M. Shevach, et al.).Regulaton of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) byCD4¯+CD25¯+ regulatroy T cells (A.P. Kohmet al.).The role of CD28 and CTLA4 in the function of homeostasis ofCD4¯+CD25¯+ regulatory T cells (E. Boden, etal.).CD4¯+CD25¯+ regulatory cells from humanperipheral blood express very high levels of CD25 ex vivo(C. Baecher-Allan, et al.).Control of immune pathology by regulatory Tcells (F. Powrieet al.).General discussion I TGFß.Type 1 T regulatory cells and their relationship withCD4¯+CD2 5¯+ T regulatory cells (M.G.Roncarolo, et al.).(PRO)insulin-specific regulatory T cells (L.C. Harrison, etal.).CD1d-restricted NKT regulatory cells: functional genomicanalyses provide new insights into mechanism of protection againstType 1 diabetes (Q. Mi, et al.).Seven surprises in the TCR-centred regulation of immuneresponsiveness in an autoimmmune system (E. Sercarz, etal.).Regulatory cells in transplantation (K.J. Wood, et al.).CD4¯+ regulatory T cells in chronic viral infection(K.J. Hasenkrug).General discussion II.Modulation of T cell responses after cross-talk between antigenpresenting cells and T cells: a give-and-take relationship (M.H.M.Wauben, et al.).Dendritic cells: controller of the immune system and a newpromise for immunotherapy (J. Banchereau, et al.).Regulation of viral and autoimmune responses (C. Asseman, etal.).General discussion III Active immune regulation.Notch signalling in the peripheral immune system (M.J. Dallmanet al.).CD3 antibody treament stimulates the functional capability ofregulatory T cells (L. Chatenoud).The role of dendritic cells in regulating mucosal immunity andtolerance (A. Mowat, et al.).Index of Contributors.Subject Index.