辅助性T细胞可塑性及其分化的调控机制

The plasticity of T helper cells and the mechanism for its differentiation

辅助性CD4^+T细胞是适应性免疫应答的主要淋巴细胞。继人们首次在小鼠体内发现并命名Th1和Th2后,近20多年来又陆续发现了其他功能的Th细胞亚群,包括Th9、Th17、Th22、Tfh和Treg细胞等。关于新型Th细胞亚群的表型特征、免疫学功能和分化机制的研究成为近几年的热点,特别是Th细胞可塑性概念的提出,使得Th细胞的多功能性、相互作用和分化调控机制更加复杂化。现将总结分析国内外关于Th9、Th17、Tfh和Th22细胞的最新研究成果,论述辅助性T细胞的功能、分化的可塑性及其机制。

T helper cells are the major effector lymphocytes in adaptive immune responses. Th1 and Th2 cells were the initial understanding T helper cells in mouse and human. In recent two decades, new lineages of T helper cells were described, including Th9, Th17, Th22, Tfh and Treg cells. Currently, the phenotypic characteristics, immunological functions and differentiation mechanism of new subset of Th cells are main immunological research topics. The concept of Th cell plasticity makes research more complicated, especially, Th cell polyfunction, the cell to cell interaction and differentiation mechanism are needed to be further understood. We mainly focus on the latest highlights about Th9, Th17, Tfh and Th22 cells, and summarize the functions of new T helper cells, differentiation plasticity and its mechanism.