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/β 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.

Geginat, J., Paroni, M., Facciotti, F., Gruarin, P., Kastirr, I., Caprioli, F., et al. (2013). The CD4-centered universe of human T cell subsets. SEMINARS IN IMMUNOLOGY, 25(4), 252-262 [10.1016/j.smim.2013.10.012].

The CD4-centered universe of human T cell subsets

Facciotti F;
2013

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/β 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.
Articolo in rivista - Review Essay
CD4+ memory T cells, T cell differentiation, cytokines, tissue homing
English
2013
25
4
252
262
none
Geginat, J., Paroni, M., Facciotti, F., Gruarin, P., Kastirr, I., Caprioli, F., et al. (2013). The CD4-centered universe of human T cell subsets. SEMINARS IN IMMUNOLOGY, 25(4), 252-262 [10.1016/j.smim.2013.10.012].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/335341
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