Cell division regulates the T cell cytokine repertoire, revealing a mechanism underlying immune class regulation

Abstract

Naive T lymphocytes have the potential to differentiate and produce a range of cytokines crucial for appropriate immune responses. How T lymphocytes vary their cytokine output during differentiation is unknown, although they are clearly influenced by the cytokines already present in the environment. Here we show that the number of divisions taken by the cells after activation is a critical element in T cell differentiation. Our experiments used the dye 5-(and 6-)carboxyfluorescein diacetate, succinimidyl ester to track cells in different divisions after activation by anti-CD3 in the presence of the differentiating cytokine interleukin (IL)-4. The patterns of acquisition or loss of secretion ..