Teasing apart T helper cells

Since the late 1980s, when the concept of Th1 and -2 were first introduced, several new subsets have arisen, including Th17 cells and regulatory T (T reg) cells. Recent attention has focused on a putative new Th cell subset with the propensity to secrete IL-9. But whether these "Th9" cells are truly a unique subset or whether many Th cell subsets can produce IL-9 under the right circumstances has been a matter of debate.

Nowak and colleagues now show that a Th17-driven CNS disease was blunted in mice lacking IL-9. In vitro studies showed that IL-9 was produced primarily by Th17 and T reg cells—subsets that depend on TGF-beta for their differentiation. Thus IL-9 production may go hand-in-hand with the presence of TGF-beta rather than with a defined Th cell subset.

More information:

Locksley, R.M., et al. 2009. J. Exp. Med. doi:10.1084/jem.200doi:10.1084/jem.20090246owak, E.C., et al. 2009. J. Exp. Med. doi:10.1084/jem.20090246

Source: Rockefeller University (news : web)