Consensual immunity: success-driven development of T-helper-1 and T-helper-2 responses.
Non-germline-encoded T- and B-cell receptors allow humans to effectively deal with rapidly mutating pathogens. Here, we argue that, in addition to determining the antigenic specificity of immune responses, the same receptor systems can also regulate the T-helper-1/T-helper-2 profile of immunity. Such a mechanism--based on feedback from distinct effector cells to dendritic cells, rather than on instruction from pathogens--uses the effectiveness of particular effector cells at targeting and destroying a pathogen as a reliable, experience-based criterion to induce and maintain the appropriately polarized response.
Kalinski
Pawel
P
Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Research Pavilion, Room 1.46b, 5117 Center Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-1863, USA. kalinskip@upmc.edu
Moser
Muriel
M
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D018448:Models, Immunological; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell