Subtypes of helper cells. Non-inflammatory type 1 helper T cells.

Abstract

Class II MHC-restricted T cells recently have been characterized as being either type 1 (Th1) or type 2 (Th2) based on their ability to both secrete different lymphokines and perform different functions. Characterization of these subtypes to date have indicated that Th1 cells secrete IL-2, IFN-gamma, lymphotoxin, and IL-3, whereas Th2 cells secrete IL-4, IL-5, and IL-3. Functionally, Th1 cells mediated cytotoxicity and delayed-type hypersensitivity, and have been termed "inflammatory cells," whereas Th2 cells mediate helper function for Ig secretion and have been termed, "regulatory cells." We now present evidence that not all Th1 clones are inflammatory and capable of mediating cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity. We have generated a number of myelin basic protein-specific Th1 clones that do not mediate swelling when injected together with myelin basic protein directly into the footpads of syngeneic mice. These results suggest that Th1 cells can be further subdivided based on their ability to mediate delayed-type hypersensitivity, and that the Th1/Th2 characterization of Th cells may be insufficient to adequately characterize all functional subtypes of class II MHC-restricted T cells.