Renal inflammation, induced by autoantigen recognition or toxic drugs, leads to renal tissue injury and decline in kidney function. Recent studies have demonstrated the crucial role for regulatory T cells in suppressing pathogenic adaptive but also innate immune responses in the inflamed kidney. However, there is also evidence for other immune cell populations with immunosuppressive function in renal inflammation. This review summarizes mechanisms of immune cell regulation in immune-mediated glomerulonephritis and acute and chronic nephrotoxicity.
