title: CD4⁺T cells: differentiation and functions.
abstract: CD4⁺T cells are crucial in achieving a regulated effective immune response to pathogens. Naive CD4⁺T cells are activated after interaction with antigen-MHC complex and differentiate into specific subtypes depending mainly on the cytokine milieu of the microenvironment. Besides the classical T-helper 1 and T-helper 2, other subsets have been identified, including T-helper 17, regulatory T cell, follicular helper T cell, and T-helper 9, each with a characteristic cytokine profile. For a particular phenotype to be differentiated, a set of cytokine signaling pathways coupled with activation of lineage-specific transcription factors and epigenetic modifications at appropriate genes are required. The effector functions of these cells are mediated by the cytokines secreted by the differentiated cells. This paper will focus on the cytokine-signaling and the network of transcription factors responsible for the differentiation of naive CD4⁺T cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan 430071, China.
authors.forename: Rishi Vishal
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Luckheeram
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Asha Devi
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D014157:Transcription Factors