Abstract

Th17 and regulatory T Treg cells are integral in maintaining immune homeostasis and Th17 Treg imbalance has been associated with inflammatory immunosuppression in cancer Here it is shown that in addition to ROR Foxp3 cells eTreg Effector Regulatory T Cells cells are a source of ex-Th17 CD4 low CD25 hi CD49 hi Foxp3 hi Regulatory Killer T RKT cells while the latest is much more suppressive Moreover we have identified a set of key cytokines that favor the generation and expansion of ex-Th17 Foxp3 low cells These findings should accelerate efforts to define the function of this new subset of Treg cells in the immune response to cancer