Paradoxical roles of IFN-gamma in models of Th1-mediated autoimmunity.
T-cell responses to antigens are classified on the basis of the cytokines they produce as either Th1 (IFN-gamma, IL-2) or Th2 (IL-4, IL-10), with these Th types being indicative of either cell-mediated or antibody-mediated responses, respectively. Using this classification, T-cell responses in MHC-class-II-restricted autoimmune diseases appear to be predominantly of the Th1 type, based on the presence of high levels of IFN-gamma. This simplistic classification has recently been challenged, however, as disease incidence and severity are frequently elevated in animals that have a deficient IFN-gamma response. The recent data discussed here indicate that the cytokine circuits involved in the regulation of cell-mediated and humoral immune responses during the development of autoimmune arthritis are more complex than originally proposed; perhaps our characterization of autoimmune responses as strictly Th1 or Th2 is overly simplistic, especially as it pertains to the role of IFN-gamma.
Rosloniec
Edward F
EF
VA Medical Center, Research Service (151), Memphis, Tennessee, USA. erosloniec@utmem.edu
Latham
Kary
K
Guedez
Yajaira B
YB
D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D007371:Interferon-gamma