J Pediatr Infect Dis 2017; 12(03): 147-156
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1602852
Review Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Biology of T Helper Cells and Their Role in Neonatal Infection

Mohammed Abdulmageed
1   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan, United States
,
Said A. Omar
1   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan, United States
,
B. V. Madhukar
1   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan, United States
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Publikationsverlauf

08. Dezember 2016

26. Dezember 2016

Publikationsdatum:
04. Juni 2017 (online)

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Abstract

T lymphocytes play a central role in the adaptive immune system of the body to provide protection and surveillance against infections. Precursors of T cells begin their journey in the bone marrow and reach the thymus where they mature into naive T cells through a series of transitionary stages and interaction with thymic epithelial cells in various regions of the thymus to emerge as single-positive CD4+ or CD8+ T lymphocytes. The CD4+ naive T cells leave thymus and migrate to the peripheral lymphatic tissue for further differentiation into various subsets as a consequence of interaction with cytokines and altered gene regulation by specific transcription factors. This review summarized the intrathymic T-cell biology and various subsets of T cells, their characteristic cytokine production, and their role in neonatal infections.