Functional heterogeneity of human memory CD4 + T cell clones primed by pathogens or vaccines

Abstract

For T cells, variety is the spice of life CD4 + helper T cells come in a variety of flavors. This allows them to respond in a manner that is tailored to the pathogen they encounter. Becattini et al. wondered whether multiple “flavors” of human CD4 + T cells respond to specific stimuli or if just one flavor dominates. To find out, they stimulated human memory CD4 + T cells with a fungus, a bacteria, or a vaccine antigen. Multiple helper cell subsets participated in each response. T cell receptor sequencing revealed that in some cases, T cells with the same specificity acquired different helper cell fates. Thus, there is more heterogeneity in human T cell responses than previously appreciated. Science , this issue p. 400