Hydrogen peroxide as an immunological transmitter regulating autoreactive T cells.

Significance: An unexpected finding, revealed by positional cloning of genetic polymorphisms controlling models for rheumatoid arthritis, exposed a new function of Ncf1 and NADPH oxidase (NOX) 2 controlled oxidative burst.

Recent Advances: A decreased capacity to produce ROS due to a natural polymorphism was found to be the major factor leading to more severe arthritis and increased T cell-dependent autoimmunity.

Critical Issues: In the vein of this finding, we here review a possible new role of ROS in regulating inflammatory cell and autoreactive T cell activity. It is postulated that peroxide is an immunologic transmitter secreted by antigen-presenting cells that downregulate the responses by autoreactive T cells.

Future Directions: This may operate at different levels of T cell selection and activation: during negative selection in the thymus, priming of T cells in draining lymph nodes, and while interacting with macrophages in peripheral target tissues.