Regulation of murine inflammatory bowel disease by CD25+ and CD25- CD4+ glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor family-related gene+ regulatory T cells.

CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells in normal animals are engaged in the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance and prevention of autoimmune disease. However, accumulating evidence suggests that a fraction of the peripheral CD4(+)CD25(-) T cell population also possesses regulatory activity in vivo. Recently, it has been shown glucocorticoid-induced TNFR family-related gene (GITR) is predominantly expressed on CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells.