A nice review about the early non-T-cell source of IL-4 from basophils that act as Th2-inducing antigen-presenting cells. Even though we have shown that during LN responses to alum-precipitated antigens IL-4 is dispensable for the early induction of Th2-features including B cell maturation and helper T cell differentiation more, it is important to keep in […]
A stimulating paper from Mohrs and colleagues that shows that IL-4 and IFN-g signaling during Heligmosomoides polygyrus or Toxoplasma gondii respectively, is: i) widespread throughout the LN, ii) independent of direct cell contact and, iii) is not a limiting factor in B cell maturation or helper T cell differentiation. These results are challenging in view […]
Two nice reviews by Jinfang Zhu and Bill Paul that, once again, highlight the fantastic plasticity of the CD4 T cell differentiation. The first review is a general summary on the various subsets of effector CD4 T cells while the second is focussed on the development and maintenance of Th2 CD4 T cells
It has taken a little more than one year to find that PU.1 is the transcription factor responsible for the differentiation of IL-9-producing CD4 T cells (see also 04/04/2010 and 05/04/2010 previous news entries). Th9 CD4 T cells are now officially a new subset of helper CD4 T cells!
Yong-Jun Liu has a long-lasting interest in dendritic cells and B cells and a more recent passion for plasmacytoid dendritic cells. He extends our knowledge of the role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in positively regulating B cell differentiation, which was previously proposed to be dependent upon type-I IFN and IL-6 that are produced by this […]
M. Bevan provide us with a nice history of what we have learnt so far from the very first mice lacking a immunological-related gene: the b2-microglobulin. What has the b2-microglobulin knock-out mouse taught us since 1990?
Understanding the mechanisms of reversibility of functionality in CD4 T cells is a long-lasting question in Immunology. This is tremendously important to find new or improved therapeutic approaches to reverse harmful immune responses such as Th1/Th17 during autoimmunity or Th2 during allergy and asthma. M. Löhning and colleagues demonstrate that in vivo viral infection reveal […]
A fascinating study from C. Dong and colleagues defining a new role for IL-25 in inducing IL-9-producing CD4 T cells. Is Th9 a new T helper cell subset? Regulation of IL-9 expression by IL-25 signalling
The ever growing list of CD4 T helper subsets leads us to re-think the overall flexibility of the T cell response ! The functional plasticity of CD4 T cell subsets