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. 2023 Jul 31;11(8):1304. doi: 10.3390/vaccines11081304

Figure 2.

Figure 2

Interplay and balance of CD4+ T cell subtypes in MTB infection. APCs, such as macrophages, present MTB antigen peptides to naive T cells (Th0 cells) through MHC II molecules, inducing the differentiation of T cells into different subtypes depending on the cytokine microenvironment. Upon stimulation with IL-12 and IFN-γ secreted by macrophages, Th0 cells activate STAT4 and T-bet, differentiate into Th1 subtype, and release cytokines such as IFN-γ and TNF-α to combat MTB infection. Similarly, macrophages can facilitate the differentiation of Th0 cells into Th2, Th17, and Treg subtypes by secreting different cytokines, including IL-2 and IL-4, IL-6, IL-23, and TGF-β, as well as IL-10 and TGF-β. The interplay among Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg subtypes is complex and balanced, and they work together to exert immune responses and maintain the host defense against MTB infection.