Expression of L-selectin (CD62L) discriminates Th1- and Th2-like cytokine-producing memory CD4+ T cells.
Human memory (CD45RO+) CD4+ T cells can be distinguished into two subpopulations on the basis of expression of the lymph node homing receptor, L-selectin (CD62L). In a prior study we showed that human L-selectin-positive memory T-helper (Th) cells promote the maturation of IgG- and IgA-producing cells by naive B cells. To further elucidate the contribution of memory CD4+ T cells to B-cell differentiation, human memory CD4+ T cells with or without L-selectin expression were evaluated for production of cytokines that participate in regulation of immunoglobulin production. It was found that L-selectin-positive human memory CD4+ T cells produce mainly interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5, whereas L-selectin-negative CD4+ T cells produce mainly interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). This profile of cytokine expression coincides with the profile that distinguishes Th1 and Th2 subsets. In contrast to the murine system, IL-10 production was similarly contributed by human L-selectin-positive and -negative memory CD4+ T-cell subpopulations. These results suggest that the human L-selectin-negative and -positive subpopulations of human memory CD4+ T cells contain Th1-like and Th2-like cytokine-producing cells, respectively.
Kanegane
H
H
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Japan.
Kasahara
Y
Y
Niida
Y
Y
Yachie
A
A
Sughii
S
S
Takatsu
K
K
Taniguchi
N
N
Miyawaki
T
T
D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D019041:L-Selectin; D007371:Interferon-gamma