Whitepaper: CD4+ T-Cell Subsets
CD4+ T-cells play a central role in directing adaptive immune responses against invading microbial pathogens.
Naïve CD4+ T-cells differentiate into more specialized subsets following T-cell activation, which requires recognition of the antigenic peptide/major histocompatibility complex (MHC) by the T-cell receptor, along with antigen-independent co-stimulation. Differentiation into a specific CD4+ T-cell subset depends on the antigen, the strength of the TCR signal, and cytokines present in the surrounding extracellular environment.