Tolerance and Lymphokines

Abstract

This review describes several in vitro models of anergy in both murine and human CD4⁺ T cells, relating the role of lymphokine production to the induction and maintenance of tolerance. The division of CD4⁺ T cells into Th1 and Th2 sub-populations and the capacity of Th2 lymphokines to abrogate the response of T cells belonging to the Th1 subset are discussed. The model of nonresponsiveness is described in terms of phenotypic modulation, responses to IL2, requirement for co-stimulatory molecules, and lymphokine profiles. The various methods for measuring lymphokines using bioassays, immunoassays, or molecular techniques are compared and critiqued.