TY - JOUR
T1 - Quantitative events determine the differentiation and function of helper T cells
AU - O'Garra, Anne
AU - Gabryšová, Leona
AU - Spits, Hergen
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - In recent years, numerous qualitative discoveries have been made in immunology research. However, the effect of quantitative events, long recognized as the driving factors for determinism in developmental biology, that dictate the quality of the immune response elicited to an antigen in concert with microbial products still requires serious attention. Here we discuss how the often-neglected issue of quantification affects the specification, differentiation and commitment of helper T cells. As reductionist in vitro approaches have been instrumental in the elucidation of the factors determining the development of helper T cells, in this perspective we highlight the need for the standardization of protocols, also fundamental for the comparison of immune responses in mice and humans. Improving understanding of how these in vitro quantitative events translate to immune responses in vivo, which can be studied in mouse models, is of importance in obtaining information on immune responses in humans, thus empowering translational research
AB - In recent years, numerous qualitative discoveries have been made in immunology research. However, the effect of quantitative events, long recognized as the driving factors for determinism in developmental biology, that dictate the quality of the immune response elicited to an antigen in concert with microbial products still requires serious attention. Here we discuss how the often-neglected issue of quantification affects the specification, differentiation and commitment of helper T cells. As reductionist in vitro approaches have been instrumental in the elucidation of the factors determining the development of helper T cells, in this perspective we highlight the need for the standardization of protocols, also fundamental for the comparison of immune responses in mice and humans. Improving understanding of how these in vitro quantitative events translate to immune responses in vivo, which can be studied in mouse models, is of importance in obtaining information on immune responses in humans, thus empowering translational research
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1038/ni.2003
DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/ni.2003
M3 - Article
C2 - 21423225
SN - 1529-2908
VL - 12
SP - 288
EP - 294
JO - Nature immunology
JF - Nature immunology
IS - 4
ER -