title: The ontogeny of class-regulation of CD4+ T lymphocyte populations.
abstract: The differential class-regulation of CD4+ T lymphocyte populations is believed to play a major role in determining the qualitative behaviour of the immune system, and in the fate of immune responses in particular. In this article we propose a model for the dynamics of the Th1 and Th2 subpopulations. We put forward the concept of an 'antigenic niche' which allows us to postulate that the key feature underlying the regulation of Th differentiation pathways is the population dynamics of the lymphocytes themselves. Using this model we are able to account for a number of well established experimental observations which were hitherto apparently unrelated and poorly understood. This suggests that our simplified model might be capturing some essential features of the immune system.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018448:Models, Immunological; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens