@Article{ecn.2010.0190,
AUTHOR = {Ursula Azizi-Semrad, Dagmar Krenbek, Günther Hofbauer, Georgios Karanikas, Eduardo Maldonado-Gonzalez, Peter Pietschmann, Martin Willheim},
TITLE = {Cytokine profiling of human peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocytes reveals a new Th-subpopulation (Th6) characterized by IL-6},
JOURNAL = {European Cytokine Network},
VOLUME = {21},
YEAR = {2010},
NUMBER = {2},
PAGES = {105--115},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/ECN/v21n2/65868},
ISSN = {1952-4005},
ABSTRACT = {The number of functional subsets of CD4+ T lymphocytes distinguished by their cytokine produc-tion has been extended in the last decade. The in vitro generation of a T cell subset characterized by IL-6production has resurrected the question of cytokine co-expression patterns in T cells. In order to delineatethese cells as a specific functional subpopulation in vivo, we profiled the cytokine production pattern of humanperipheral blood CD4+ T lymphocytes across established subsets. We provide evidence for a new T cell subsetTh6, with an IL-6 signature. Freshly isolated PBMC were analyzed using intracellular cytokine detection(IDC). Cytokine co-expression patterns of up to three cytokines, as well as their correlation with selectedtranscription factors, were determined in CD4+ T lymphocytes. Co-expression of two of these signaturecytokines used for the definition of functional subsets, e.g. IL-4, IFN-γ, IL-17 and IL-6 were observed, butnearly excluded the production of a third (or fourth) signature cytokine. In this respect, Th1 (key cytokineIFN-γ), Th2 (IL-4), Th6 (IL-6) and Th17 (IL-17) subsets can be defined, along with overlaps of any two ofthem. In contrast, TNF-α and IL-2 are not signature cytokines, but their absence or expression in single cellsintroduces further divisions across established subsets. Our study supports the concept of a further functionalT cell Th6 subset, and contributes to the reference cytokine profiles of healthy individuals relevant to furtherstudies in a variety of disease states.},
DOI = {10.1684/ecn.2010.0190}
}