A New, Phenotypically Distinct Subpopulation of Regulatory Killer T ex-Th17 Cells Expressing CD4lowCD25hiCD49hiFoxp3hiRORlowIL-17low
Th17 and regulatory T (Treg) cells are integral in maintaining immune homeostasis and Th17– Treg imbalance has been associated with inflammatory immunosuppression in cancer. Here it is shown that in addition to ROR+Foxp3+ cells eTreg (Effector Regulatory T Cells) cells are a source of ex-Th17 CD4 low CD25 hi CD49 hi Foxp3 hi (Regulatory Killer T – RKT) cells while the latest is much more suppressive. Moreover, we have identified a set of key cytokines that favor the generation and expansion of ex-Th17 Foxp3 low cells. These findings should accelerate efforts to define the function of this new subset of Treg cells in the immune response to cancer.