What was the discovery?

For their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance.

What is peripheral immune tolerance?

It is the mechanism by which the immune system prevents self-reactive T cells from attacking normal body tissues outside the thymus.

Which cells are central to this process?

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) – specialised immune cells that suppress excessive immune reactions

What did Shimon Sakaguchi contribute?

In 1995, he discovered that CD4+CD25+ T cells could prevent autoimmune disease in mice the first description of regulatory T cells.

What was discovered by Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell?

They identified the FOXP3 gene, essential for the development and function of regulatory T cells.

What happens when FOXP3 is defective?

Loss of FOXP3 causes uncontrolled immune activation, leading to severe autoimmune disorders such as IPEX syndrome.

Author: Dr Jay Deshmukh

Dr Jay Deshmukh is Chief Physician and Director, Sunflower Hospital, Nagpur Honorary Physician to Honorable Governor of Maharashtra and PondicherryCentral. Dr Jay Deshmukh is an M.B.B.S., M.C.P.S., F.C.P.S., M.N.A.M.S., MD From Internal Medicine – Bombay and New Delhi.