Forkhead Box Protein 3: Difference between revisions

[[Image:Picturefoxp3.png|280px|left]]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Forkhead Box Protein 3]] ('''FOXP3''') is a member of the [[Forkhead box protein|Forkhead transcription factor]] family. It is highly expressed in regulatory T (Treg) cells, a subset of CD4⁺ T cells that play a critical role in suppressing immune responses, especially those mediated by autoreactive T cells.<ref>PMID:19464984</ref> A number of mutations to FOXP3 are known to result in a severe autoimmune disease known as IPEX (immune dysregulation, polyendocriopthy, enteropathy, X-linked). As FOXP3 is found on the X-chromosome, mutations to FOXP3 typically only display deleterious phenotypic traits in males, resulting in lymphocyte infiltration and wide spread inflammation in inphants.<ref>PMID:11137993</ref> A similar pathology is also found in mice who carry nonsense mutations in the FOXP3 locus. These mutant mice are known as ''scurfy'' mice. The targeted elimination of FOXP3⁺ CD4⁺ Tregs in adult mice has similar autoimmune dysfunction.<ref>PMID:17220892</ref> Further, ectopic expression of FOXP3 in peripheral CD4⁺CD25^- T cells equips these T cells with the ability to suppress the proliferation and effector functions of autoreactive T cells ''in vivo''.<ref>PMID:12612578</ref> %%%%%