| First Author | DiToro D | Year | 2018 |
| Journal | Science | Volume | 361 |
| Issue | 6407 | PubMed ID | 30213884 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:265346 | Mgi Id | MGI:6198723 |
| Doi | 10.1126/science.aao2933 | Citation | DiToro D, et al. (2018) Differential IL-2 expression defines developmental fates of follicular versus nonfollicular helper T cells. Science 361(6407) |
| abstractText | In response to infection, naive CD4(+) T cells differentiate into two subpopulations: T follicular helper (TFH) cells, which support B cell antibody production, and non-TFH cells, which enhance innate immune cell functions. Interleukin-2 (IL-2), the major cytokine produced by naive T cells, plays an important role in the developmental divergence of these populations. However, the relationship between IL-2 production and fate determination remains unclear. Using reporter mice, we found that differential production of IL-2 by naive CD4(+) T cells defined precursors fated for different immune functions. IL-2 producers, which were fated to become TFH cells, delivered IL-2 to nonproducers destined to become non-TFH cells. Because IL-2 production was limited to cells receiving the strongest T cell receptor (TCR) signals, a direct link between TCR-signal strength, IL-2 production, and T cell fate determination has been established. |
