ICOS(+) Tregs: A Functional Subset of Tregs in Immune Diseases

Recent studies have reported the pathological effect of ICOS(+) T cells, but ICOS signals also widely participate in anti-inflammatory responses, particularly ICOS(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells. The ICOS signaling pathway endows Tregs with increased generation, proliferation, and survival abilities. Furthermore, there is enough evidence to suggest a superior capacity of ICOS(+) Tregs, which is partly attributable to IL-10 induced by ICOS, yet the associated mechanism needs further investigation. In this review, we discuss the complicated role of ICOS(+) Tregs in several classical autoimmune diseases, allergic diseases, and cancers and investigate the related therapeutic applications in these diseases. Moreover, we identify ICOS as a potential biomarker for disease treatment and prognostic prediction. In addition, we believe that anti-ICOS/ICOSL monoclonal antibodies exhibit excellent clinical application potential. A thorough understanding of the effect of ICOS(+) Tregs and the holistic role of ICOS toward the immune system will help to improve the therapeutic schedule of diseases.