IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Loss of TET function in T regulatory cells yields Tfh-like ex-Treg cells with the features of heterochromatin dysfunction.

Loss of TET function in T regulatory cells yields Tfh-like ex-Treg cells with the features of heterochromatin dysfunction.

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Video Summary

The speaker described how TET enzymes maintain FOXP3 stability in regulatory T cells by demethylating key FOXP3 regions. TET-deficient Tregs lose FOXP3, become CD4-negative TFH-like “X-Tregs,” and fail to suppress inflammation in transfer models. These cells induce strong immune activation, including neutrophil, plasma cell, and cytotoxic CD8 T-cell expansion. Single-cell RNA-seq and sequencing showed hypermethylation changes, increased BCL6 due to reduced CTCF binding, and decreased PRDM1 and CD4 expression. X-Tregs also showed heterochromatin loss and increased transposable element expression, suggesting epigenetic instability contributes to their pro-inflammatory behavior.

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Date April 17, 2026 1:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Room 156

Session Trouble with the Ex: exTregs and Beyond

Speaker Kazumasa Suzuki

Track Immune Response Regulation: Cellular Mechanisms (IRC)

Year 2026

Keywords

TET enzymes

FOXP3 stability

regulatory T cells

epigenetic instability

X-Tregs

April 17, 2026 1:00 PM - 1:15 PM

156

Trouble with the Ex: exTregs and Beyond

Kazumasa Suzuki

Immune Response Regulation: Cellular Mechanisms (IRC)

2026