Functionally diverse subsets in CD4 T cell responses against influenza.
BACKGROUND
Antibody alone cannot provide optimal protection against many infectious diseases impacting global heath. In these cases, our challenge is to develop innovative vaccines that generate protective populations of memory T cells. However, our studies suggest that current paradigms explaining how memory CD4 T cells provide protection are inadequate. This is likely due to both the paucity of and heterogeneity of memory CD4 T cells observed in vivo, which make analysis extremely difficult.


CONCLUSIONS
Here, we discuss new findings that indicate there is extensive functional heterogeneity within effector and memory CD4 T cell populations both in vivo and in vitro. Using influenza as an example, we also discuss the merits of employing reductionist approaches to explore how unique subsets of CD4 T cells are generated, what mechanisms of protection they use, and where they stand on the axes of differentiation that define T cell subsets.
Strutt
Tara M
TM
Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, USA. tstrutt@trudeauinstitute.org
McKinstry
K Kai
KK
Swain
Susan L
SL
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
D016207:Cytokines; D007252:Influenza Vaccines