Direct TLR-2 Costimulation Unmasks the Proinflammatory Potential of Neonatal CD4+ T Cells.

ABSTRACT: Neonatal CD4(+) T cells have traditionally been viewed as deficient in their capacity to produce Th1 cytokines in response to polyclonal or Ag-specific stimuli. Thus, defining unique aspects of CD4(+) T cell activation and development into Th1 effector cells in neonates is essential to the successful development of novel vaccines and immunotherapies to protect infants from intracellular pathogens. Using highly purified naive CD4(+) T cells derived from cord and adult peripheral blood, we compared the impact of anti-CD3 stimulation plus costimulation through TLR-2 performed in the absence of APC on CD4(+) T cell cytokine production, proliferation, and expression of activation markers. In both age groups, TLR-2 costimulation elicited activation of naive CD4(+) T cells, characterized by robus

SUBMITTER: Sinnott BD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5023071 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature