Tregitopes switch on Tregs

摘要

Immunoglobulin (Ig) has long been known to have tolerogenic properties. Thus, antigens (Ags) conjugated to Ig elicit tolerance rather than immunity, and intravenous administration of pooled Ig from multiple donors, known as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), is used in clinical practice to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.The reason for these tolerogenic effects of Ig is not understood, but recently IVIg has been shown to enhance human regulatory T cells (Tregs).This, together with the observation that Fc fusion proteins of soluble receptors and other bioactive molecules are either poorly or nonimmuno-genic, and antibody (Ab) variable regions (to which central tolerance should not exist) do not elicit robust autoimmune responses, led De Groot et al to postulate that the Ig molecule must contain regions or epitopes that are stimulatory to Tregs (ie, Tregitopes)