The Many Faces of CD4<sup>+</sup> T Cells: Immunological and Structural Characteristics
As a major arm of the cellular immune response, CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells are important in the control and clearance of infections. Primarily described as helpers, CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells play an integral role in the development and activation of B cells and CD8<sup>+<...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/1/73 |
| Summary: | As a major arm of the cellular immune response, CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells are important in the control and clearance of infections. Primarily described as helpers, CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells play an integral role in the development and activation of B cells and CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells. CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells are incredibly heterogeneous, and can be divided into six main lineages based on distinct profiles, namely T helper 1, 2, 17 and 22 (Th1, Th2, Th17, Th22), regulatory T cells (Treg) and T follicular helper cells (Tfh). Recent advances in structural biology have allowed for a detailed characterisation of the molecular mechanisms that drive CD4<sup>+</sup> T cell recognition. In this review, we discuss the defining features of the main human CD4<sup>+</sup> T cell lineages and their role in immunity, as well as their structural characteristics underlying their detection of pathogens. |
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| ISSN: | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |