Immunosuppressive cells employ various mechanisms to dampen the immune response:
1. Cytokine Secretion: Many of these cells secrete anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10, TGF-β, and IL-35. 2. Cell-Cell Contact: Regulatory T cells can inhibit other immune cells through direct contact, often mediated by molecules like CTLA-4 and PD-1. 3. Metabolic Disruption: Some immunosuppressive cells can deplete essential nutrients from the microenvironment, thereby starving effector immune cells. 4. Induction of Apoptosis: Certain immunosuppressive cells can trigger apoptosis in effector T cells through the Fas-FasL pathway.
