Redirection of Th1 and Th2 Responses

It has been 12 years since the first proposal was made to sub divide mouse CD4 I T cell clones into Th I and Th2 subsets, based on their differences in cytokine production, and 7 years since the first clear demonstration of a similar dichotomy among human T cell clones. In the ensuing period, it has been realized that inappropriate development of Th I or Th2 responses are important features of many immunological and infectious dis eases. Perhaps the first group of diseases to be understood in terms of preferential Th subset activation were allergic diseases (see PARRONC'HI et aI. , this volume). Several of the major, co ordinately regulated, features of allergy, including IgE, eosino philia and mastocytosis, were found to be stimulated by the T- specific cytokines I L-4 and IL-5 and inhibited by the Th I cyto kine, IFN-. This suggested that the presence and severity of al lergic responses reflected the relative numbers of Th I and Th2 cells specific for the offending allergen. Similarly, the very dif ferent consequences of protective Th I and nonprotective Th2 responses to a number of intracellular pathogens have been re cognized for some time (see TRINCHIERI and SCOTI, and COFF MAN et aI. , this volume).

Klappentext

The two major subsets of CD4+ helper T cells, designated Th1 and Th2, have quite different patterns of cytokine production and, as a consequence, have very different roles in immune responses. The articles in this volume review both basic and clinical studies of T cell heterogeneity, including: - The mechanisms by which Th1 and Th2 cells develop and maintain their differences in cytokine production - The different roles of Th1 and Th2 cells in allergy, autoimmunity and infectious diseases - The prospects and strategies for therapeutic manipulation of Th1 and Th2 cells - The control of Th1 and Th2 responses by regulatory T cell subsets. The volume will give the reader a current view of the development and function of Th1 and Th2 cells and the attempts to treat immunological diseases with therapies directed towards altering the Th1/Th2 balance.

Inhalt
List of Contents.- The Stability and Reversibility of Th1 and Th2 Populations.- T Helper Differentiation Proceeds Through Stat1-Dependent, Stat4-Dependent and Stat4-Independent Phases.- Redirecting Th2 Responses in Allergy.- Interleukin-12: Basic Principles and Clinical Applications.- Redirecting Th1 and Th2 Responses in Autoimmune Disease.- Manipulation of Th Responses by Oral Tolerance.