Table 3 CD4+ T cell subsets
Subset name | Markers and assays | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
Human | Mouse | ||
TH1 cell | CXCR3+, CCR4−, CCR6−, CXCR5−, T-bet+, IFNγ+ when stimulated | T-bet+, IFNγ+ when stimulated | Activated or memory CD4+ T cells predisposed to express IFNγ, but not IL-4, IL-5 or IL-13 Depend on T-bet to develop |
TH2 cell | CRTh2+, CXCR3−, CCR4+, CCR6−, CXCR5−, GATA3+ IL-4+, IL-5+ and/or IL-13+ when stimulated | GATA3+ IL-4+, IL-5+ and/or IL-13+ when stimulated | Activated or memory CD4+ T cells predisposed to express IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13, but not IFNγ Depend on GATA3 to develop |
TH9 cell | CXCR3−, CCR4+, CCR6−, CXCR5−, CCR8+, PU.1 and IL-9 when stimulated, PPARγ+ in skin | PU.1 and IL-9 when stimulated | Activated or memory CD4+ T cells predisposed to express IL-9 Depend on multiple factors to develop, including PU.1, IRF4 and BATF |
TH17 cell | CXCR3−, CCR4+/−, CCR6+, CXCR5−, RORγt+, IL-17+ when stimulated | RORγt+, IL-17+ when stimulated | Activated or memory CD4+ T cells that are predisposed to secrete IL-17 Depend on RORγt to develop |
CD4+ CTL | In vitro chromium release assay, granzyme B+, CCR7−, CD27−, may express CD95 | Same as human (see left) | A CD4+ T cell that exhibits cytolytic activity |
TFH cell (T follicular helper cell) | CXCR5+, BCL6+ | Same as human (see left) | CD4+ T cells that promote B cell activation, differentiation, antibody production, somatic hypermutation, class-switching, and memory Depend on BCL6 to develop |
GC TFH cell (germinal centre TFH cell) | ND | BCL6hi, CXCR5hi, PD-1hi, ICOS+, FR4hi PSGL1low | A subset of TFH cells that reside within germinal centres (GCs) of lymphoid organs wherein they help select high-affinity B cells undergoing somatic hypermutation |
MZ TFH cell (mantle zone TFH cell) | ND | BCL6low, CXCR5low, PD-1low, FR4lo, PSGL1hi | A subset of TFH cells that reside within mantle regions of B cell follicles May be the precursors of GC TFH cells or GC TFH cells that migrate out of GCs back into the mantle zone |
TFHM (T follicular helper memory) cell | CXCR4+, FOXP3− | TCF1+, FR4+, P2RX7+, CXCR4+ | Long-lived CD4+ TFH cells that putatively persist after antigen clearance |
Regulatory T (Treg) cell | Foxp3+, CD25hi, CD127low, CTLA4+, GITR+ | Same as human (see left) | A subset of CD4+ T cells that regulate immune responses and promote tolerance Depend on FOXP3 to develop |
tTreg cell (thymus-derived Treg cell) | FOXP3+, CCR7hi, CD45RA+, CD45RO− | FOXP3+, CD62L+, CD44lo, neuropilin-1hi, helioshi | Treg cells that differentiate upon recognition of self-antigens during thymic development Also referred to as natural (nTreg) cells Difficult to discriminate from pTreg cells in humans |
pTreg cell (peripherally derived Treg cell) | FOXP3+, CCR7hi, CD45RA+, CD45RO− | FOXP3+, CD62L+, CD44lo, neuropilin-1lo, helioslow/int | Treg cells that differentiate upon recognition of antigens in peripheral tissues Also referred to as induced Treg cells Difficult to discriminate from tTreg cells in humans |
eTreg cell (effector Treg cell) | FOXP3hi, CD45RO+, CCR8hi, ICOShi, IRF4+ | FOXP3hi, CD62L−, CD44hi, BLIMP1+, IL-10+, TGFβ+ | tTreg or pTreg cells that have undergone further activation-induced differentiation to alter their migration status and gain capacity for secretion of suppressive cytokines |
iTreg cell (in vitro-induced Treg cell) | ND | ND | CD4+ T cells that are induced to differentiate into Treg cells in vitro |
TFR (T follicular regulatory) cells | CXCR5+, FOXP3+, GITR+, IL-10+ | CXCR5+, PD-1+, BCL6+, FOXP3+, GITR+, IL-10+ | A subset of Treg cells that are localized within B cell follicles or GCs |
