Cited by 172T-cell and B-cell ImmunologyPsoriasis: Treatment and PathogenesisIL-33, ST2, and ILC Pathways

Repositioning TH cell polarization from single cytokines to complex help

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Tuzlak, Selma, Dejean, Anne S., Iannacone, Matteo, Quintana, Francisco J., Waisman, Ari, Ginhoux, Florent, Korn, Thomas, Becher, Burkhard·2021·Nature Immunology

Abstract

When helper T (T H) cell polarization was initially described three decades ago, the T H cell universe grew dramatically. New subsets were described based on their expression of few specific cytokines. Beyond T H 1 and T H 2 cells, this led to the coining of various T H 17 and regulatory (T reg) cell subsets as well as T H 22, T H 25, follicular helper (T FH), T H 3, T H 5 and T H 9 cells. High-dimensional single-cell analysis revealed that a categorization of T H cells into a single-cytokine-based nomenclature fails to capture the complexity and diversity of T H cells. Similar to the simple nomenclature used to describe innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), we propose that T H cell polarization should be categorized in terms of the help they provide to phagocytes (type 1), to B cells, eosinophils and mast cells (type 2) and to non-immune tissue cells, including the stroma and epithelium (type 3). Studying T H cells based on their helper function and the cells they help, rather than phenotypic features such as individual analyzed cytokines or transcription factors, better captures T H cell plasticity and conversion as well as the breadth of immune responses in vivo.

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  • Th17 cells are an independent T helper cell subset.

    “Th17 cells were established as an independent T helper cell subset with the discovery of signature cytokines IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-22, lineage-specific differentiation factors, and dedicated or “master” transcription factors”

    From TH17 cell heterogeneity and its role in tissue inflammation (2023) · cites this paper as [14]

  • TGF-β and IL-6 are required to polarize naïve T cells into Th17 cells.

    “In 2006, the cytokines TGF-β and IL-6 were described as differentiation factors required to polarize naïve T cells into Th17 cells”

    From TH17 cell heterogeneity and its role in tissue inflammation (2023) · cites this paper as [14]

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Authors
Tuzlak, S., Dejean, A. S., Iannacone, M., Quintana, F. J., Waisman, A., Ginhoux, F., Korn, T., & Becher, B.
Affiliations
  • University of Zurich (CH)
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (IT)
  • Broad Institute (US)
  • University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (DE)
  • Agency for Science, Technology and Research (SG)
  • TUM Klinikum (DE)
Corresponding author
  • Korn, Thomas
  • Becher, Burkhard
Venue
Nature Immunology
Published
2021-09-20
Volume
22
Issue
10
Pages
1210-1217
ISSN
  • 1529-2908 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2916
OpenAlex
W3200319266
Cited by
171
References
148
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 44 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 43 · 2021: 5
FWCI
3.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Immunology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
  • Open access LMU (Ludwid Maxmilian's Universitat Munchen) (submittedVersion)
  • Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca - Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele (submittedVersion)
  • mediaTUM (Technical University of Munich) (submittedVersion)
  • GoeScholar The Publication Server of the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (Georg-August-Universität Göttingen) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation
  • National Multiple Sclerosis Society (RG4111A1, PA-1604-08459)
  • European Molecular Biology Organization (RG4111A1)
  • Gilead Sciences
  • Fondation pour l'Aide à la Recherche sur la Sclérose en Plaques
  • International Progressive MS Alliance (PA-1604-08459)
  • Multiple Sclerosis Society (PA-1604-08459)
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 1054, CRC1292, TRR‐156, EXC 2145, TRR-274, 390857198, TRR128, TRR156, CRC1292)
  • Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-16-CE15-0007)
  • Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (170320, 188450, 183478)
  • Ministero della Salute (2018-, COVID-2020-12371617, RF-2018, RF-2018-12365801)
  • Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (19891 and 22737, 22737, 19891)
  • National Institutes of Health (733 310030_170320, ES02530, RG4111A1, H2020, ES029136)
  • Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (847782, 882424, 826121)
  • Biomedical Research Council
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI126880)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS102807)
  • H2020 European Research Council (725038, 957502, 647215)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Psoriasis: Treatment and Pathogenesis
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › IL-33, ST2, and ILC Pathways
Keywords
T helper cell polarization, T helper subsets, helper functions, T helper type 1 cells, Th2 cells, T cell diversity, single-cell analysis, T cell help to B cells
MeSH terms
Cell Plasticity, Animals, B-Lymphocytes, Eosinophils, Epithelium, T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Lymphocytes, Phagocytes, Cytokines

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