Medicine & USMLE

Th2 Cells

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B Cells and T Cells
  1. MHC I
  2. MHC II
  3. B Cells - Overview
  4. B Cells - Activation
  5. Plasma B Cells
  6. Memory B Cells
  7. T Cells - Overview
  8. T Cells - Activation
  9. T Cells - Differentation
  10. Cytotoxic (Killer) T Cells
  11. Helper T Cells - Overview
  12. Th1 Cells
  13. Th2 Cells
  14. Th17 Cells
  15. Regulatory T Cells (Tregs)

Summary

T-Helper Type 2 (Th2) cells are a type of effector Helper T-cell with a variety of functions. Th2 cell differentiation and proliferation from naive Helper T-cells is induced by interleukin-4 (IL-4). Once activated, Th2 cells produce more IL-4, Interleukin-5 (IL-5), and Interleukin-10 (IL-10). IL-4 works in an autocrine fashion to stimulate the production of more Th2 cells, but it can also stimulate the production of IgE by B-cells. IL-5 works downstream to stimulate the production of IgA by B-cells, and also stimulates the proliferation and activation of eosinophils. IL-10 works to taper off the immune response to prevent collateral damage to normal tissue. Altogether, Th2 are effector T-cells, and their signalling products play important roles in parasite defense, mucosal immunity, and the shutting off of immune responses to prevent autoimmunity.

Key Points