Fig. 7
From: Beyond T-cell subsets: stemness and adaptation redefining immunity and immunotherapy
Strategies to target stem-like CD4+ T cells for durable immune tolerance. Stem-like CD4+ T cells serve as progenitors of pathogenic effector cells in autoimmune and alloimmune diseases. Targeting these cells through elimination or reprogramming may enable long-lasting immune control. Three potential approaches are illustrated: (1) Selective depletion of stem-like clones by identifying unique surface markers; (2) disruption of antistress pathways that sustain their self-renewal capacity, thereby promoting apoptosis; and (3) redirection of cell fate by modulating epigenetic or metabolic programs to promote differentiation into nonpathogenic states, such as iTregs, anergic cells, or Tfh-like cells, while blocking effector differentiation. Created with BioRender.com
