Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
10:30
Visualization of IL-22-expressing Lymphocytes Using Reporter Mice
Published on: January 25, 2017
IL-22 from T cells: better late than never
1Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. kenya@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Immunity
|December 19, 2012
Summary
Th22 cells are the main source of Interleukin-22 (IL-22), crucial for mucosal defense against Citrobacter rodentium infection. This study highlights their role in adaptive immunity during later stages of infection.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Interleukin-22 (IL-22) is vital for maintaining mucosal barrier integrity and bolstering antimicrobial host defense.
- Understanding the cellular sources of IL-22 is critical for elucidating adaptive immune responses to enteric pathogens.
Discussion:
- Basu et al. identify Th22 cells as the primary adaptive immune cells responsible for producing IL-22.
- This finding is particularly relevant during the late stages of Citrobacter rodentium infection, a model for bacterial enterocolitis.
Key Insights:
- Th22 cells are revealed as the critical adaptive source of IL-22.
- IL-22 produced by Th22 cells plays a significant role in host defense against Citrobacter rodentium.
- The study elucidates the specific contribution of Th22 cells to IL-22 production during infection resolution.
Outlook:
- Further research can explore therapeutic strategies targeting Th22 cells or IL-22 to enhance mucosal immunity.
- Investigating the regulation of Th22 cell differentiation and function in response to various pathogens is warranted.
- This work provides a foundation for understanding IL-22-mediated immunity in other mucosal infections.
Related Concept Videos
01:24T Cell Types and Functions
When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
01:22T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...