CD8+ Tregs kill pathogenic cells to avert autoimmunity

Mouse Ly49(+)CD8(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) can subdue autoreactive CD4(+) T cells to suppress autoimmunity. Recently, Li et al. demonstrated that killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR)+CD8(+) T cells are the human equivalent of Ly49(+)CD8(+) regulatory T cells and kill pathogenic CD4(+) T cells, which can be increased in certain human autoimmune diseases and viral infections.

Automated summary

Research has shown that KIR+CD8(+) T cells in humans are similar to mouse Ly49(+)CD8(+) regulatory T cells and can kill pathogenic CD4(+) T cells, thereby suppressing autoimmune diseases and viral infections.