A Call to Arms: The Cytokine Selection Service

John W. Nelson

The author is at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Science's Signal Transduction Knowledge Environment, Washington, DC 20005 USA. E-mail: jnelson@aaas.org

Abstract:

The process by which naïve T helper (T_H) cells differentiate into the T_H1 and T_H2 subtypes has been well studied. However, there remain some unresolved issues pertaining to the requirements for the initial step of T_H cell differentiation. Much debate exists about whether the roles of cytokines include the forcing of the initial steps of differentiation on naïve T_H cells, termed "instruction," or whether cytokines act in a supportive role, termed "selection," whereby newly differentiating T_H cells are given the proper signals for survival and proliferation. A recent paper by Mullen et al., which helps delineate the role of cytokines in T_H1 cell development, is addressed by Nelson; it appears that cytokines act in the selection stage of T_H cell maturation.

Citation:
J. W. Nelson, A Call to Arms: The Cytokine Selection Service. Science's STKE (2001), http://stke.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/OC_sigtrans;2001/91/pe2.

© 2001 American Association for the Advancement of Science

The editors suggest the following Related Resources on Science sites:

In Science Signaling

EDITORS' CHOICE
IMMUNOLOGY
Earliest Influences

(15 February 2005)
Sci. STKE 2005 (271), tw68. [DOI: 10.1126/stke.2712005tw68]
 |  Abstract »

EDITORIAL GUIDES
Introduction: STKE Focus Issue on Signaling in the Immune System

John W. Nelson (17 July 2001)
Sci. STKE 2001 (91), eg1. [DOI: 10.1126/stke.2001.91.eg1]
 |  Full Text »  |  PDF »