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Immunosuppressive regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg)expressing the transcription factor Foxp3 play a vital role in the maintenance of tolerance of the immunesystem to self and innocuous non-self.Most Treg that are critical for the maintenance of tolerance to self,develop as an independent T-cell lineage from common T cell precursors in the thymus.In this organ,their differentiation requires signals from the T cell receptor for antigen,from co-stimulatory molecules,as well as from cytokine-receptors.Here we focus on the cytokines implicated in thymic development of Treg,with a particular emphasis on the roles of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-15.The more recently appreciated involvement of TGF-β in thymic Treg development is also briefly discussed.Finally,we discuss how cytokine-dependence of Treg development allows for temporal,quantitative,and potentially qualitative modulation of this process.