Table 1.
CD4+ T lymphocytes and their functions in relation to transcription factors, priming and secreted cytokines in tumor progression or regression
| Th1 cells | Th2 cells | Th17 cells | CD4+CD25+ Treg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priming cytokines | IL-12 IFN-γ |
IL-4 | TGF-β and inflammatory cytokine (IL-1, IL-21, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-23) | TGF-β1 |
| Transcription factors | T-bet STAT1 |
GATA3 STAT6 |
RORγt RORα STAT3 |
Foxp3 SMAD |
| Major secreted effector cytokines | IL-2 IFN-γ TNF-α |
IL-4 IL-5 IL-13 |
IL-17A (IL-17) IL-17F IL-21 IL-22 |
TGF-β1 IL-10 |
| Role in tumor microenvironment | Help CD8+ T cells | Suppress CD8+ T cells | Recruit Th1 effector T cells/Suppress CD8+ T cells and promote early growth in the inflammatory environment? | Suppress CD4+ and CD8+ T cells |
| Outcome | Tumor regression | Tumor progression | Tumor regression/progression? | Tumor progression |