@entity404 (+) @entity2902 (+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) are potent modulators of immune responses. The transcriptional program distinguishing Tregs from the @entity404 (+) @entity2902 (-) Th cells is unclear. NFAT, a key transcription factor, is reported to interact with forkhead box p3, allowing inhibitory and activating signals in T cells. In the current study, we hypothesize that distinctive NFAT regulation in Tregs as compared with Th cells, may contribute to specific functions of these cells. Tregs express basal levels of cytoplasmic @entity9889 and @entity9888 . In contrast to Th cells, anti-CD3-mediated T cell activation did not induce nuclear translocation of @entity9889 or @entity9888 in Tregs. This effect was associated with altered regulation for NFAT in Tregs that included reduced @entity460 flux, diminished calcineurin activation, and increased activity of @entity9459 , a negative regulatory kinase for NFAT in Tregs relative to Th cells. These data suggested that NFAT inhibition in Th cells may induce regulatory function. Indeed, pharmacologically mediated NFAT inhibition induced Th cells to function as Tregs, an effect that was mediated by induction of membrane-bound @entity2533 on Th cells. Collectively, these data suggest that maintaining NFAT at basal levels is a part of the transcriptional program required for Tregs.

Regulation of the NFAT pathway discriminates @entity404 + @entity2902 + regulatory T cells from XXXX + @entity2902 - helper T cells.

@entity9889 :: ('4772', 'Gene') :: ['NFATc1'] @entity404 :: ('920', 'Gene') :: ['CD4'] @entity9888 :: ('4773', 'Gene') :: ['NFATc2'] @entity2533 :: ('7040', 'Gene') :: ['TGF-beta'] @entity460 :: ('MESH:D002118', 'Chemical') :: ['calcium'] @entity2902 :: ('3559', 'Gene') :: ['CD25'] @entity9459 :: ('2932', 'Gene') :: ['glycogen synthase kinase-3beta']
@entity404 :: (920,Gene) :: ['CD4']
