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Mechanisms underlying helminth- induced Th2 polarization: default, negative or positive pathways?
Dragana Jankovic1, Svenja Steinfelder, Marika C Kullberg
1Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., USA.
Chemical Immunology and Allergy
|October 8, 2005
Summary
Helminth parasites like Schistosoma mansoni induce Th2 cell differentiation. This review explores signals from antigen-presenting cells that drive Th2 polarization, comparing parasite and allergen pathways.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- T helper (Th) cell subsets (Th1 and Th2) were identified in the 1980s.
- Th cell differentiation is regulated by molecular events and transcription factors in response to stimuli.
- While T cell receptor (TCR) cross-linking and co-stimulation are necessary for CD4+ lymphocyte activation, they don't fully explain Th1/Th2 commitment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on Th2 polarization requirements induced by the parasitic helminth Schistosoma mansoni.
- To address the controversy regarding the role of antigen-presenting cell (APC) signals (positive, negative, or absent) in Th2 development.
- To discuss similarities between parasite- and allergen-induced Th2 differentiation pathways.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent research findings.
- Analysis of molecular mechanisms regulating T helper cell differentiation.
- Comparative analysis of helminth and allergen immune responses.
Main Results:
- Helminths, particularly Schistosoma mansoni, are potent inducers of Th2 cells.
- The precise signals from APCs that dictate Th2 commitment remain a subject of debate.
- Pathways involved in Th2 differentiation induced by parasites share similarities with those triggered by allergens.
Conclusions:
- Understanding Th2 polarization is crucial for comprehending immune responses to helminths and allergens.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay of signals governing Th2 cell fate.
- Comparative studies highlight conserved mechanisms in immune responses to different Th2-inducing agents.