{
  "abstract": "Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are capable suppressors of aberrant self-reactivity. However, how differences in affinity and specificity may support Treg function compared with autoimmune T cell function remains unresolved. In this study, we analyzed the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires of the regulatory and effector T cells that spontaneously infiltrate pancreatic islets of nonobese diabetic mice and therefore share antigen specificity. Using 2-dimensional micropipette measurements of TCR affinity, we show that effector and regulatory T cell-derived TCRs possess similar wide-ranging affinities for self-antigen. Treg-derived TCRs conferred variable protective function and Treg suppressive capacity was, in part, determined by the relative antigen-reactivity of effector T cells. Interestingly, when expressing the same TCR, Tregs showed higher Nur77-GFP expression than effector T cells in vivo, suggesting a Treg-intrinsic ability to compete for antigen. In vitro, we observed accelerated Treg TCR activation, suggesting that Tregs are poised for faster response to antigen than T effectors. Our findings expose a subpopulation of Tregs possessing low-affinity, suboptimal TCRs, obscured by apparent higher Nur77 expression in Tregs as a whole.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, UT,",
    "Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston, TX,"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Yi Jing"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Yuelin Kong"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Baoyu Liu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Elizabeth Motunrayo Kolawole",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-3138-0037"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Tessa Galland"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "L Gillen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "M Kenison"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Maran L. Sprouse",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4017-8466"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Brian D. Evavold",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3561-3494"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "M Bettini"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Maria Bettini"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2tbqxz00dkqcb.bib",
  "cited_by": 8,
  "doi": "10.1093/jimmun/vkag136",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "2tbqxz00dkqcb",
  "issns": [
    "0022-1767",
    "1550-6606"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/jimmun/vkag136",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2403|T-cell and B-cell Immunology"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7167123528",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC9882247",
  "pmid": "36711832",
  "published": "2026-06-01",
  "publisher": "American Association of Immunologists",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2tbqxz00dkqcb.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-04T13:21:10Z",
      "native_id": "W7167123528",
      "source": "openalex",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/jimmun/vkag136"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:2403|T-cell and B-cell Immunology",
      "subfield": "immunology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Increased Nur77 is disconnected from TCR affinity in insulin-specific Tregs",
  "title_text": "Increased Nur77 is disconnected from TCR affinity in insulin-specific Tregs",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-08T13:20:46Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2tbqxz00dkqcb",
  "venue": "The Journal of Immunology",
  "versions": []
}