Stepwise Acquisition of Unique Epigenetic Signatures During Differentiation of Tissue Treg Cells

The document discusses the role and development of regulatory T cells (Tregs), a subtype of CD4+ T cells, in maintaining self-tolerance and preventing autoimmunity. Tregs are also found in non-lymphoid tissues where they perform important homeostatic and regenerative functions, including promoting hair follicle regeneration. The study identified 339 differentially-methylated regions (DMRs) between Treg and conventional T cells, with Ctla4, Il2ra, Il2rb, Ikzf2, Ikzf4, and Foxp3 as the most prominent members of this core Treg cell-specific epigenetic signature. However, there were about five times more DMRs between Treg cells derived from lymph nodes and skin or fat, indicating that the tissue-specific microenvironment of Treg cells has a major impact on their epigenetic profiles. The document suggests that understanding these processes could have implications for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and other conditions.