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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Nov 3.
Published in final edited form as: Clin Cancer Res. 2021 Jun 14;27(21):5742–5752. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-21-0206

Figure 1: Overview of CD4 T-cell functions.

Figure 1:

CD4 T-cells are most well known for their T helper cell functions (displayed on the right). Through recognition of the T-cell receptor (TCR) of the peptide-major histocompatitibility (MHC) complex, CD4 T-cells mediate increased maturation and activation of dendritic cells (DC). This process allows augmented CD8 T-cell effectors upon interaction with the activated DC. Furthermore, CD4 T-cells increase B cell maturation, antibody class switching, and affinity maturation, and enhance phagocytosis within macrophages (Mϕ). Aside from helper functions, CD4 T-cell possess both direct and indirect tumor cytotoxicity capacities (displayed on the left). Direct cytotoxicity was demonstrated by cytotoxic CD4 T expressing Class I-restricted T-cell-associated molecule (CRTAM). Indirect cytotoxicity could also be guided by CD4 T-cells through interaction with antigen presenting cells (APCs) or natural killer cells.