Which statement about T-regulatory cells is true?

Which statement about T-regulatory cells is true?

• A. Destroy pathogens
• B. Suppress or regulate the immune response
• C. Produce antibodies
• D. Stimulate inflammation

Answer: (B)

Regulatory T cells act as the immune system’s brakes, suppressing or regulating immune responses to prevent autoimmunity and excessive inflammation. They keep other immune cells in check by multiple means: secreting anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10 and TGF-β, expressing CTLA-4 to dampen activation signals from antigen-presenting cells, and consuming IL-2 through high CD25 expression to limit the growth of effector T cells. While they can influence other cells, their primary role is to reduce activity rather than attack pathogens, produce antibodies, or drive inflammation. That suppressive/regulatory function best fits what regulatory T cells do.

Regulatory T cells act as the immune system’s brakes, suppressing or regulating immune responses to prevent autoimmunity and excessive inflammation. They keep other immune cells in check by multiple means: secreting anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10 and TGF-β, expressing CTLA-4 to dampen activation signals from antigen-presenting cells, and consuming IL-2 through high CD25 expression to limit the growth of effector T cells. While they can influence other cells, their primary role is to reduce activity rather than attack pathogens, produce antibodies, or drive inflammation. That suppressive/regulatory function best fits what regulatory T cells do.