title: T cell exhaustion.
abstract: T cell exhaustion is a state of T cell dysfunction that arises during many chronic infections and cancer. It is defined by poor effector function, sustained expression of inhibitory receptors and a transcriptional state distinct from that of functional effector or memory T cells. Exhaustion prevents optimal control of infection and tumors. Recently, a clearer picture of the functional and phenotypic profile of exhausted T cells has emerged and T cell exhaustion has been defined in many experimental and clinical settings. Although the pathways involved remain to be fully defined, advances in the molecular delineation of T cell exhaustion are clarifying the underlying causes of this state of differentiation and also suggest promising therapeutic opportunities.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. wherry@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors: E John
authors: EJ
authors: Wherry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018448:Models, Immunological; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators