Dong Chen
Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
Renji Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; email:
Annu Rev Immunol. 2021 Apr 26;39:51-76. doi: 10.1146/annurev-immunol-061020-053702. Epub 2021 Jan 11.
T lymphocytes, the major effector cells in cellular immunity, produce cytokines in immune responses to mediate inflammation and regulate other types of immune cells. Work in the last three decades has revealed significant heterogeneity in CD4 T cells, in terms of their cytokine expression, leading to the discoveries of T helper 1 (Th1), Th2, Th17, and T follicular helper (Tfh) cell subsets. These cells possess unique developmental and regulatory pathways and play distinct roles in immunity and immune-mediated pathologies. Other types of T cells, including regulatory T cells and γδ T cells, as well as innate lymphocytes, display similar features of subpopulations, which may play differential roles in immunity. Mechanisms exist to prevent cytokine production by T cells to maintain immune tolerance to self-antigens, some of which may also underscore immune exhaustion in the context of tumors. Understanding cytokine regulation and function has offered innovative treatment of many human diseases.
T淋巴细胞是细胞免疫中的主要效应细胞，在免疫反应中产生细胞因子以介导炎症并调节其他类型的免疫细胞。过去三十年的研究揭示了CD4 T细胞在细胞因子表达方面存在显著的异质性，从而发现了辅助性T细胞1（Th1）、Th2、Th17和滤泡辅助性T细胞（Tfh）亚群。这些细胞拥有独特的发育和调节途径，在免疫和免疫介导的病理过程中发挥着不同的作用。其他类型的T细胞，包括调节性T细胞和γδ T细胞，以及天然淋巴细胞，也表现出类似的亚群特征，它们可能在免疫中发挥不同的作用。机体存在防止T细胞产生细胞因子以维持对自身抗原免疫耐受的机制，其中一些机制也可能是肿瘤背景下免疫耗竭的原因。对细胞因子调节和功能的理解为许多人类疾病提供了创新的治疗方法。
