Development in motion: helper T cells at work

SL Reiner. (2007) Cell 129: 33-36.

In mammals, helper T cells orchestrate defense against diverse pathogens. However, these warriors of the immune system can also result in self-inflicted injury culminating in autoimmune and allergic diseases. Recent findings--such as the discovery of the Th17 lineage--have revealed additional complexity in the fates chosen by helper T cells and have begun to reshape our view of how signaling and transcriptional networks generate appropriate and inappropriate immunity.

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