Stability and commitment in T helper cell development

Curr Opin Immunol. 2001 Apr;13(2):242-7. doi: 10.1016/s0952-7915(00)00210-7.

Abstract

Specialized effector activities that are required to eliminate various pathogens involve cytokines produced by specialized CD4(+) T cells subsets, dogmatically termed Th1 and Th2 cells. Despite some oversimplifications, this paradigm is useful for organizing the complex pathways that control forward and backward movements along the road of T cell differentiation. Effective immune memory relies, in part, on the maintenance of the T helper phenotype. This review will address basic issues that relate to the maintenance or reversibility of Th1/Th2 states within the CD4(+) T cell lineage.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-12 / genetics
  • Interleukin-12 / immunology
  • Interleukin-4 / genetics
  • Interleukin-4 / immunology
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor
  • Th1 Cells / cytology*
  • Th1 Cells / immunology*
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism
  • Th2 Cells / cytology*
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism
  • Trans-Activators / physiology
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • STAT6 Transcription Factor
  • STAT6 protein, human
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Interleukin-12
  • Interleukin-4