Abstract
Following thymic output, αβ+CD4+ T cells become activated in the periphery when they encounter peptide–major histocompatibility complex. A combination of cytokine and co-stimulatory signals instructs the differentiation of T cells into various lineages and subsequent expansion and contraction during an appropriate and protective immune response. Our understanding of the events leading to T-cell lineage commitment has been dominated by a single fate model describing the commitment of T cells to one of several helper (TH), follicular helper (TFH) or regulatory (TREG) phenotypes. Although a single lineage-committed and dedicated T cell may best execute a single function, the view of a single fate for T cells has recently been challenged. A relatively new paradigm in αβ+CD4+ T-cell biology indicates that T cells are much more flexible than previously appreciated, with the ability to change between helper phenotypes, between helper and follicular helper, or, most extremely, between helper and regulatory functions. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the recent literature identifying when TH or TREG cell plasticity occurs, provide potential mechanisms of plasticity and ask if T-cell plasticity is beneficial or detrimental to immunity.
Highlights
T-cell differentiation programmesThe differentiation of abþCD4þ T cells is the result of combined T-cell receptor (TCR) engagement, co-stimulation and distinct cytokine receptor ligation
AbþCD4þ T cells become activated in the periphery when they encounter peptide–major histocompatibility complex
A combination of cytokine and co-stimulatory signals instructs the differentiation of T cells into various lineages and subsequent expansion and contraction during an appropriate and protective immune response
Summary
AbþCD4þ T cells become activated in the periphery when they encounter peptide–major histocompatibility complex. Our understanding of the events leading to Tcell lineage commitment has been dominated by a single fate model describing the commitment of T cells to one of several helper (TH), follicular helper (TFH) or regulatory (TREG) phenotypes. A single lineage-committed and dedicated T cell may best execute a single function, the view of a single fate for T cells has recently been challenged. A relatively new paradigm in abþCD4þ T-cell biology indicates that T cells are much more flexible than previously appreciated, with the ability to change between helper phenotypes, between helper and follicular helper, or, most extremely, between helper and regulatory functions. We comprehensively summarize the recent literature identifying when TH or TREG cell plasticity occurs, provide potential mechanisms of plasticity and ask if T-cell plasticity is beneficial or detrimental to immunity
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