Review Article

Glucocorticoid-Induced Tumour Necrosis Factor Receptor-Related Protein: A Key Marker of Functional Regulatory T Cells

Table 1

Markers of Tregs.

Marker1LocalizationExpressed by

Involved in establishing Tregs phenotypeFoxP3NucleustTregs, pTregs (but not in some subsets), and CD8+ Tregs
HeliosNucleustTregs, pTregs (occasionally)

Involved in Tregs regulatory activity and markers of active TregsIL-2 receptor (CD25)Membrane (the level of expression is crucial)tTregs, pTregs (but not in some subsets), and CD8+ Tregs
CTLA-4Membrane (but detectable only intracellularly)tTregs, pTregs
TGF-βCytoplasm, secretedpTregs (especially but not exclusively Th3)
IL-10Cytoplasm, secretedpTregs (especially Tr1)
Granzyme BCytoplasm, secretedtTregs, pTregs
PerforinCytoplasm, secretedtTregs
IL-35Cytoplasm, secretedpTregs (occasionally)
E5NT (CD73)MembranepTregs
ENTPD1 (CD39) MembranepTregs
PD-1 ligand (PD-L1)MembranepTregs

Other markers of active TregsGITR (CD357)MembranetTregs, pTregs, and CD8+ Tregs
T-cell Ig and mucin domain protein-3 (Tim-3)MembranetTregs, pTregs
Galectin-9MembranetTregs, pTregs
ICOS (CD278)MembranepTregs
latency-associated peptide (LAP)MembranetTregs
CD69 (C-type lectin receptor)MembranepTregs

Involved in tTregs differentiationIL-2 receptor (CD25)MembranetTregs
GITR (CD357)MembranetTregs
OX40 (CD134)MembranetTregs
TNFR2MembranetTregs

Involved in pTregs differentiation/expansion and tTregs expansionIL-2 receptor (CD25)MembranetTregs, pTregs (but not in some subsets)
CD28MembranetTregs, pTregs
GITR (CD357)MembranetTregs, pTregs, and CD8+ Tregs
OX40 (CD134)MembranetTregs, pTregs
ICOS (CD278)MembranepTregs
LAG-3 (CD223)MembranetTregs, pTregs
Programmed cell death (PD)-1MembranepTregs
PD-1 ligand (PD-L1)MembranepTregs
CD226MembranepTregs (Tr1)
CD69 (C-type lectin receptor)MembranepTregs

Involved in inhibition of Tregs activityGITR (CD357)MembranetTregs, pTregs, and CD8+ Tregs
OX40 (CD134)MembranetTregs, pTregs
4-1BB (CD137)MembranetTregs, pTregs

Other markersCD45R0 (memory marker)MembranetTregs (those expanded), pTregs
CD45RA (naïve marker)MembranetTregs
Neuropilin-1 (VEGF receptor)MembranetTregs, low expression in pTregs
CD49bMembranepTregs (Tr1)

Not expressed by TregsIL-7 receptor (CD127)MembranetTregs
CD49dMembranetTregs

Expression is not exclusive of Tregs.