Progress in epigenetic regulation of regulatory T cell

Regulatory T (Treg) cells exert significant influence on the control of autoimmunity and maintenance of homeostasis, while the progressive roles of Treg cells in solid tumor and hematological malignance have also attracted much attention recently. Except for the specific expression of transcription factor forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3), natural Treg (nTreg) cells have Treg-specific hypomethylation pattern in a limited number of key genes, which is indispensable for stable Treg cells and functional nTreg cells to define the T-cell subpopulation possessing Treg-type epigenome more accurately. The expression of Foxp3 and Treg-specific hypomethylation phenotype have close relationship with the epigenetic regulation, which involves DNA methylation, histone methylation, acetylation, microRNA, etc. This review summarizes the different mechanisms of epigenetic regulation according to the two important features of Treg cells. Key words: Regulatory T cell; Foxhead box protein 3; DNA hypomethylation; Epigenetic regulation