TGF- regulation of encephalitogenic and regulatory T cells in multiple sclerosis

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-) is a pleiotropic cytokine that has been shown to influence the differentiation and function of T cells. The role that TGF- plays in immune-mediated disease, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), has become a major area of investigation since CD4(+) T cells appear to be a major mediator of autoimmunity. This review provides an analysis of the literature on the role that TGF- plays in the generation and regulation of encephalitogenic and regulatory T cells (Treg) in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS, as well as in T cells of MS patients. Since TGF- plays a major role in the development and function of both CD4(+) effector and Treg, which are defective in MS patients, recent studies have found potential mechanisms to explain the basis for these T-cell defects to establish a foundation for potentially modulating TGF- signaling to restore normal T-cell function in MS patients.