Self-reactive T cells driving chronic autoimmune disease identified

In autoimmune diseases autoantigen-specific T cells orchestrate the pathogenic immune reaction against self. Saggau & Bacher et al. show that these cells acquire an unexpected Foxp3+ “exhausted” T helper (ThEx) cell phenotype and shut down their activation program. Importantly this allows ThEx cells to escape current therapies that target activated T cells. In  this way ThEx cells persist for many  years and can be reactivated, providing an explanation how ThEx cells drive disease chronicity and contribute to disease flares. Targeting of ThEx cells may enable long-lasting and durable therapies of autoimmune diseases. Read more.