A NEWLY DISCOVERED REGULATORY CD8 T CELL NETWORK HAS THE POTENTIAL TO REGULATE AND ELIMINATE PATHOGENIC CD4 T CELLS IN AUTOIMMUNE MEDIATED DISEASE OF THE GUT

Abstract

Several groups have described a subset of CD8 T cells with immunosuppressive characteristics in inflammatory disease settings. The increased prevalence of a defined subset of CD8 T cells and correlation to disease has been reported in mouse and human autoimmune diseases, suggesting a protective role for select CD8 T cells in autoimmunity. We hypothesized that a dysregulated regulatory CD8 T cell (CD8 Treg) network was similarly involved in the pathology of autoimmune diseases of the gut, including Celiac disease, Crohn’s, and Ulcerative Colitis.