CD4 + CD25 + T-Cell Production in Healthy Humans and in Patients with Thymic Hypoplasia

Abstract
Regulatory T cells are found primarily in the CD4 + CD25 + fraction of T cells and play an important role in the prevention of autoimmunity. We examined CD4 + CD25 + T cells in 33 healthy children and adults and compared them to a population with an inherited form of thymic hypoplasia and a predisposition to autoimmune disease. Absolute numbers of CD4 + CD25 + T cells were markedly higher in healthy infants than in infants with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.