TY  - EJOU
AU  - Azizi-Semrad, Ursula 
AU  - Krenbek, Dagmar 
AU  - Hofbauer, Günther 
AU  - Karanikas, Georgios 
AU  - Maldonado-Gonzalez, Eduardo 
AU  - Pietschmann, Peter 
AU  - Willheim, Martin 

TI  - Cytokine profiling of human peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocytes reveals a new Th-subpopulation (Th6) characterized by IL-6
T2  - European Cytokine Network

PY  - 2010
VL  - 21
IS  - 2
SN  - 1952-4005

AB  - 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.
KW  - intracellular cytokine detection
KW  -  flow cytometry
KW  -  IL-2
KW  -  IL-6
KW  -  TNF-α
KW  -  GATA-3

DO  - 10.1684/ecn.2010.0190