Cytokine gene knockout mice - Lessons for mucosal B-cell development

Abstract

Cytokines, soluble factors secreted by T cells and other immunocytes, play major roles at different stages of the mucosal immune response. Cytokines are involved in communication between cells of the immune system and are critical in determining both the type and the magnitude of immune responses. Whether the immune response is driven toward humoral or cell-mediated immunity is determined, in part, by the profile of cytokines produced by CD4+ T helper cell subpopulations. Cytokines also influence the development of different T cell subpopulations. For example, the Th2-derived factors IL-4 and IL-10 inhibit the development of Th1 cells in vitro, while IFNγ produced by Th1 cells suppresses the..