title: Cytotoxic human CD4(+) T cells.
abstract: The induction of adaptive immune responses critically depends on helper signals provided by CD4(+) T cells. These signals not only license antigen presenting cells (APC) to activate naïve CD8(+) T cells leading to the formation of vast numbers of cytotoxic T lymphocytes but also support the differentiation of B cells into immunoglobulin-secreting plasma cells. Next to these helper functions, a subpopulation of CD4(+) T cells can also directly function as effector cells by executing cytotoxicity in a peptide-specific and MHC class II-restricted manner. Cytotoxic CD4(+) T cells may function in combating pathogens but additionally their presence has been associated with autoimmune disease and vascular damage. On the contrary, the induction of cytotoxic CD4(+) T cells may be a future target for vaccine strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Immunology and Renal Transplant Unit, AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Pablo J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van de Berg
authors.forename: Ester M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
authors.forename: Ineke J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: ten Berge
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Lier
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D019496:Cancer Vaccines