Human CD4+CD25+Regulatory T Cells Control T-Cell Responses to Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Cytomegalovirus Antigens

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Abstract
Regulatory T (TR) cells maintain tolerance to self-antigens and control immune responses to alloantigens after organ transplantation. Here, we show that CD4+ CD25+ human TR cells suppress virus-specific T-cell responses. Depletion of TR cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells enhances T-cell responses to cytomegalovirus and human immunodeficiency virus antigens. We propose that chronic viral infections lead to induction of suppressive TR cells that inhibit the antiviral immune response.