title: Nature versus nurture in T cell cytokine production.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: The Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Australia. davidF@qimr.edu.au
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kelso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011336:Probability; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines