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. 2014 Apr 8;12(4):e1001834. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001834

In the colonic mucosa, antigens of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (a clostridium bacteria from the gut microbiota) are presented by dendritic cells. Recognition of these antigens by the CD4 T cells equipped with a specific TCR contributes to their differentiation into FoxP3-lacking regulatory T cells (Treg) characterized by the co-expression of CD4 and CD8α. Most of these Treg stay in the colonic mucosa where they prevent excessive inflammatory responses. A fraction of them migrate into the blood, likely contributing to the immune tolerance outside the gut.

In the colonic mucosa, antigens of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (a clostridium bacteria from the gut microbiota) are presented by dendritic cells. Recognition of these antigens by the CD4 T cells equipped with a specific TCR contributes to their differentiation into FoxP3-lacking regulatory T cells (Treg) characterized by the co-expression of CD4 and CD8α. Most of these Treg stay in the colonic mucosa where they prevent excessive inflammatory responses. A fraction of them migrate into the blood, likely contributing to the immune tolerance outside the gut.