A successful T cell immune response has two major products: effector T cells which directly or indirectly remove the antigens, and memory T cells, which allow a faster and more efficient recall response when challenged by related antigens. An important issue is whether costimulatory molecules on the antigen-presenting cells are involved in determining whether T cells will differentiate into eff...

The maximal T-cell response to its antigen requires presentation of the antigen by a major histocompatibility complex class II molecule as well as the delivery of one or more costimulatory signals provided by the antigen-presenting cell (APC). Although a number of candidate molecules have been identified that are capable of delivering a costimulatory signal, increasing evidence suggests that on...

CD4 Th differentiation is influenced by costimulatory molecules expressed on conventional dendritic cells (DCs) in regional lymph nodes and results in specific patterns of cytokine production. However, the function of costimulatory molecules on inflammatory (CD11b +) DCs in the lung during recall responses is not fully understood, but it is important for development of novel interventions to li...

background: dendritic cells (dc) are a key regulator of the immune response, and interferon- beta (ifn-β) is considered an immunomodulatory molecule for dc. objective: the purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of ifn-β treated dc to induce cytokine secretion by cd4+ t cells. methods: dendritic cells were generated from blood monocytes with granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating fac...

n engl j med 10.1056/nejmp068087 is tightly regulated to prevent autoreactivity. The processes of T-cell activation and self-tolerance are therefore potential targets for manipulation by drugs — hence, the recent phase 1 trial of a “superagonistic” monoclonal antiCD28 antibody that was conducted in Britain on behalf of the German firm TeGenero, with unexpected and devastating results that are d...