IL-9 and Th9 cells: progress and challenges

1. Picheng Zhao, 
2. Xiang Xiao, 
3. Rafik M. Ghobrial and 
4. Xian C. Li

+Author Affiliations

1. Immunobiology and Transplant Research, Houston Methodist Hospital and Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Texas Medical Center, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030, USA

1. Correspondence to: X. C. Li; E-mail: xcli@tmhs.org

• Received May 6, 2013.
• Accepted July 1, 2013.

 Section

Abstract

T_h9 cells are a new subset of helper T cells, and the signature cytokine for T_h9 cells is IL-9. Both T_h9 cells and T_h9 products are implicated in multiple disease settings. Thus, a clear understanding of how T_h9 cells are induced and controlled is an important and clinically relevant issue. There are different molecular pathways identified thus far in the induction of T_h9 cells, and activation of such diverse pathways requires integration of signals from TGF-β and IL-4 cytokine receptors as well as costimulatory molecules. These signals converge on the induction of multiple transcription factors that collectively drive the development of T_h9 cells.

Key words

• allergy
 
• IL-9
 
• inflammation
 
• Th9

This Article

1. Int. Immunol. (2013)doi: 10.1093/intimm/dxt039First published online: September 11, 2013

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