Controlling mature CD4+ T cell responses

Immune responses are by necessity highly regulated to achieve the appropriate balance of aggression and restraint. Among the many factors involved in maintaining this balance are the interactions between accessory molecule receptors expressed on T cells and their ligands on antigen-presenting cells. Our studies during the past several years have focused on defining how particular accessory molecule interactions influence the activation of naïve CD4+ T cells and the subsequent development of effector function. In this article, we discuss our findings on the effects of distinct accessory molecules with particular attention to the unique roles of LFA-1 and CD28 during different phases of the naïve CD4+ cell response.