The CD4-centered universe of human T cell subsets.
Semin Immunol
; 25(4): 252-62, 2013 Nov 15.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24183700
ABSTRACT
Humans are continuously exposed to a high number of diverse pathogens that induce different types of immune responses. Primary pathogen-specific immune responses generate multiple subsets of memory T cells, which provide protection against secondary infections. In recent years, several novel T cell subsets have been identified and have significantly broadened our knowledge about T cell differentiation and the regulation of immune responses. At the same time the rapidly growing number of incompletely characterized T cell subsets has also generated some controversies. We therefore review here the current knowledge on features and functions of human α/ß T cell subsets, focusing on CD4(+) T cells classified according to cytokine production and tissue localization. The principal helper and regulatory T cell subsets can be identified by a limited number of relevant surface markers, which are an integral part of the T cell differentiation programs because they are directly induced by the relevant lineage-defining transcription factors. In vivo occurring human T cell subsets can thus be purified directly ex vivo from relevant tissues for molecular and functional studies, and represent not only an ideal model to study T cell differentiation, but they also offer important clinical opportunities.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos
/
Subgrupos de Linfocitos T
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Semin Immunol
Asunto de la revista:
ALERGIA E IMUNOLOGIA
Año:
2013
Tipo del documento:
Article