The role of Th2 type CD4+ T cells and Th2 type CD8+ T cells in asthma.

Abstract

The cellular inflammatory responses which are seen in allergic and asthmatic diseases are viewed as being quite strongly dependent on the activities of T cells and their products. The major T cell subset involved appears to be the so-called CD4+ Th2 subset which produces interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-5 (IL-5). In vitro and in vivo experiments have indicated that IL-4 is a key regulator in these kinds of immune responses, not only switching B cells to IgE production, but acting on CD4+ T cells to drive their development towards a Th2 phenotype. Recent results have shown that the functional phenotype of CD8+ T cells can be switched from interferon gamma production to IL-4 and IL-5 production by the presence of IL-4. This could prove an especially important phenomenon since it is the production of interferon gamma by CD8 T cells which is seen as necessary for protection against virus infection. This short review updates our current knowledge of how IL-4 can act on CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets in in vivo models of asthma and allergic disease.

• Authors: K J Erb, G Le Gros
• Journal: Immunology and cell biology (Immunol Cell Biol) Vol. 74 Issue 2 Pg. 206-8 (Apr 1996) ISSN: 0818-9641 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8724011 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Interleukin-5
• Interleukin-4

Topics

• Animals
• Asthma (immunology)
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Humans
• Hypersensitivity (immunology)
• Interleukin-4 (immunology)
• Interleukin-5 (immunology)
• Th2 Cells (immunology)