RORing toward immunoregulation in glomerulonephritis?

CD4⁺ T cells that express forkhead box protein 3 are important in maintaining tolerance and restraining effector responses. Herrnstadt et al. use a model of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis to examine the nature and role of forkhead box protein 3–positive and retinoid acid–related orphan receptor γt–positive regulatory T cells. These cells are prominent in experimental glomerulonephritis, both locally and systemically, and are present in kidneys of people with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody–associated vasculitis. Functionally, despite their expression of retinoid acid–related orphan receptor γt, associated with T-helper cell 17 cells, they regulate cellular immunity, both systemically and within the kidney.