T regulatory cells: Achilles' heel of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection?

Abstract

T regulatory cells (Treg) constitute a specialized subset of T cells that play a pivotal role in preventing the occurrence of autoimmune diseases by suppressing deleterious activities of immune cells. Contrarily, they can have adverse effect on immune response against infectious diseases where Treg weaken the host immunity leading to enhanced microbial load and thereby increase in severity of the disease. Here, we have attempted to review plethora of information documenting prevalence of Treg in tuberculosis (TB) and their involvement in progression and immunopathogenesis of the disease. Further, we have laid emphasis on the possible use of Treg as a biomarker for determining the TB treatment efficacy. Also, we have discussed the probable contribution of Treg in dampening the efficacy of BCG, the anti-TB vaccine. Finally, we have speculated some of the possible strategies which might be explored by exploiting Treg for enhancing the efficacy of TB management.