Nature versus nurture in T cell cytokine production.
Both extrinsic and intrinsic factors influence the development of cytokine expression patterns in T lymphocytes. The models proposed to accommodate these factors are often separated into two types: deterministic (or instructional) and probabilistic (or stochastic). In this review we compare these two types of models and examine how they account for different stages of T cell cytokine responses to antigen stimulation. We conclude by showing how a reconciliation of the two types of models may be possible, perhaps through the regulatory potential of heritable epigenetic mechanisms. This type of reconciliation may open up new avenues for manipulating T cell cytokine expression and redirecting immune responses.
Fitzpatrick
D R
DR
The Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Australia. davidF@qimr.edu.au
Kelso
A
A
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011336:Probability; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
D016207:Cytokines