IL-18 Signaling Promotes Homing of Mature Tregs into the Thymus

The study identified a novel population of mature thymic regulatory T cells (Tregs) marked by IL-18R, which are resistant to age or irradiation-induced thymic involution. These IL-18R+ Tregs were shown to recirculate to the thymus, a process facilitated by IL-18R signaling that induces CCR6 expression. The research provided detailed gene expression profiles and functional analyses, highlighting the importance of IL-18/IL-18R in Treg recirculation and tissue homeostasis. The authors addressed reviewer suggestions by clarifying the terminology to "thymus recirculating Tregs" and expanding the discussion on the broader significance of their findings.