從共受體到治療靶點(diǎn):CD4分子如何調(diào)控免疫、影響疾病
日期:2026-03-24 15:11:28
CD4是輔助性T細(xì)胞表面的關(guān)鍵分子,在適應(yīng)性免疫應(yīng)答中發(fā)揮核心作用。本文系統(tǒng)梳理了CD4的結(jié)構(gòu)功能、CD4? T細(xì)胞亞群分化及其調(diào)控機(jī)制,重點(diǎn)介紹了TCR、JAK/STAT、TGF-β/SMAD等信號(hào)通路在免疫調(diào)控中的作用和CD4在HIV/AIDS、自身免疫病、腫瘤等疾病中的研究進(jìn)展,以及靶向CD4的藥物開(kāi)發(fā)現(xiàn)狀。
1. CD4在免疫系統(tǒng)中的核心地位與研究?jī)r(jià)值
3. CD4+ T細(xì)胞生物學(xué):亞群、分化與調(diào)控機(jī)制
4. 調(diào)控CD4+ T細(xì)胞功能的關(guān)鍵信號(hào)通路
1. CD4在免疫系統(tǒng)中的核心地位與研究?jī)r(jià)值
CD4是適應(yīng)性免疫系統(tǒng)中的關(guān)鍵跨膜糖蛋白,主要表達(dá)于輔助性T細(xì)胞(CD4+ T細(xì)胞)、單核細(xì)胞、巨噬細(xì)胞和樹(shù)突狀細(xì)胞表面。其中,在CD4+ T細(xì)胞上,CD4作為T細(xì)胞受體(TCR)的共受體,通過(guò)與主要組織相容性復(fù)合體II類(MHC-II)分子結(jié)合,協(xié)同介導(dǎo)T細(xì)胞活化,是適應(yīng)性免疫應(yīng)答啟動(dòng)與調(diào)節(jié)的重要樞紐。
CD4+ T細(xì)胞具有顯著的功能多樣性,可分化為Th1、Th2、Th17和Treg等多個(gè)亞群,在免疫輔助、炎癥調(diào)控和免疫耐受維持中發(fā)揮不可替代的作用 [1]。近年來(lái),隨著成像技術(shù)、單細(xì)胞分析和計(jì)算模型的發(fā)展,研究者對(duì)CD4分子的認(rèn)識(shí)不斷深化。例如,超分辨成像研究揭示了CD4在靜息T細(xì)胞質(zhì)膜上的納米尺度分布及其受棕櫚?;绊懙奶卣?[2];腫瘤免疫微環(huán)境研究表明,對(duì)CD4+ T細(xì)胞的自動(dòng)識(shí)別和分類有助于預(yù)后評(píng)估與治療反應(yīng)分析 [3];人工智能驅(qū)動(dòng)的成像分析也顯示出區(qū)分CD4和CD8細(xì)胞的潛力 [4]。
與此同時(shí),針對(duì)CD4的藥物開(kāi)發(fā)也不斷推進(jìn)。以人源化抗CD4單克隆抗體Zanolimumab為例,其可通過(guò)抑制TCR信號(hào)轉(zhuǎn)導(dǎo)、誘導(dǎo)Fc依賴性效應(yīng)機(jī)制及下調(diào)細(xì)胞表面CD4表達(dá)等方式抑制CD4+ T細(xì)胞,目前正用于皮膚和淋巴結(jié)T細(xì)胞淋巴瘤相關(guān)研究 [5]。這些進(jìn)展表明,CD4不僅是理解免疫調(diào)控機(jī)制的關(guān)鍵分子,也具有重要的疾病研究與藥物開(kāi)發(fā)價(jià)值。
2. CD4的分子特性與基礎(chǔ)功能
2.1 CD4的結(jié)構(gòu)與細(xì)胞表面表達(dá)
CD4分子通常為單鏈跨膜糖蛋白,由四個(gè)免疫球蛋白樣胞外結(jié)構(gòu)域(D1-D4)、一個(gè)跨膜區(qū)及較短的胞內(nèi)區(qū)組成。其胞外D1和D2結(jié)構(gòu)域主要參與與MHC II類分子的結(jié)合,而胞內(nèi)區(qū)則與Lck酪氨酸激酶密切關(guān)聯(lián),從而參與TCR信號(hào)啟動(dòng)與調(diào)節(jié)。
除經(jīng)典的CD4+ T細(xì)胞外,CD4還表達(dá)于巨噬細(xì)胞、樹(shù)突狀細(xì)胞和單核細(xì)胞等免疫細(xì)胞表面,因此其功能并不限于T細(xì)胞活化,也與抗原提呈、病毒感染及免疫微環(huán)境調(diào)控等過(guò)程密切相關(guān)。近年來(lái),基于TIRF和SOFI的定量成像方法提高了對(duì)CD4膜表面納米尺度分布的解析能力,進(jìn)一步證實(shí)了棕櫚酰化對(duì)CD4分布模式的重要影響 [2]。此外,人工智能輔助的無(wú)標(biāo)記成像技術(shù)也提示,CD4作為細(xì)胞表面標(biāo)志物在細(xì)胞識(shí)別與分類中具有較高應(yīng)用潛力 [4]。
2.2 CD4作為TCR共受體的作用機(jī)制
在T細(xì)胞介導(dǎo)的免疫應(yīng)答中,CD4的核心作用是協(xié)助TCR識(shí)別由抗原提呈細(xì)胞表面MHC II類分子呈遞的抗原肽。CD4通過(guò)與MHC II結(jié)合增強(qiáng)TCR-pMHC復(fù)合物的穩(wěn)定性,從而提升T細(xì)胞抗原識(shí)別的效率與特異性。
除穩(wěn)定識(shí)別復(fù)合物外,CD4還可通過(guò)胞內(nèi)區(qū)招募并調(diào)節(jié)p56lck活性。活化后的p56lck可磷酸化TCR復(fù)合體中CD3鏈的ITAM基序,進(jìn)而啟動(dòng)T細(xì)胞早期信號(hào)級(jí)聯(lián)反應(yīng)。值得注意的是,針對(duì)CD4的抗體研究提示,CD4不僅參與激活,也與抑制性調(diào)控有關(guān)。研究顯示,Zanolimumab可快速抑制早期TCR信號(hào),同時(shí)激活CD4相關(guān)的p56lck,這提示其可能通過(guò)改變p56lck與TCR復(fù)合體的耦聯(lián)狀態(tài),轉(zhuǎn)而激活Dok-1、SHIP-1等抑制性信號(hào)分子,從而實(shí)現(xiàn)對(duì)T細(xì)胞功能的抑制 [5]。這說(shuō)明,CD4不僅是簡(jiǎn)單的共受體,也是連接識(shí)別、激酶招募和信號(hào)調(diào)控的重要節(jié)點(diǎn)。
3. CD4+ T細(xì)胞生物學(xué):亞群、分化與調(diào)控機(jī)制
3.1 CD4+ T細(xì)胞亞群及其功能多樣性
CD4+ T細(xì)胞具有高度異質(zhì)性,可根據(jù)轉(zhuǎn)錄因子表達(dá)和細(xì)胞因子分泌譜分化為不同亞群。經(jīng)典亞群包括Th1、Th2、Th17和Treg:
- Th1細(xì)胞主要分泌IFN-γ,介導(dǎo)抗細(xì)胞內(nèi)病原體和抗腫瘤免疫 [6]
- Th2細(xì)胞以IL-4、IL-5和IL-13為特征,主要參與抗寄生蟲免疫和過(guò)敏反應(yīng)
- Th17細(xì)胞分泌IL-17A和IL-17F,在抗細(xì)胞外病原體感染中發(fā)揮作用,但過(guò)度活化可促進(jìn)自身免疫性炎癥 [7]
- Treg細(xì)胞則通過(guò)Foxp3、IL-10和TGF-β維持免疫耐受并抑制過(guò)度免疫反應(yīng) [8]
除了經(jīng)典Th亞群外,Tfh和CD4 CTL也是近年來(lái)受到高度關(guān)注的重要類型:
- Tfh細(xì)胞在B細(xì)胞活化、抗體親和力成熟和生發(fā)center反應(yīng)中具有關(guān)鍵作用,在慢性感染和慢性移植物抗宿主病中均表現(xiàn)出重要意義 [11-12]
- CD4 CTL則突破了傳統(tǒng)"輔助性T細(xì)胞"的概念,具備穿孔素和顆粒酶介導(dǎo)的直接細(xì)胞毒性功能,可參與感染細(xì)胞或腫瘤細(xì)胞清除 [1]
- 此外,一些研究還識(shí)別出具有干細(xì)胞樣特征的CD4+ T細(xì)胞亞群,其可持續(xù)補(bǔ)充效應(yīng)細(xì)胞,在慢性炎癥維持中發(fā)揮類似"疾病干細(xì)胞"的作用 [14]
3.2 CD4+ T細(xì)胞分化與可塑性的調(diào)控
CD4+ T細(xì)胞的分化受抗原強(qiáng)度、細(xì)胞因子環(huán)境和轉(zhuǎn)錄因子網(wǎng)絡(luò)共同調(diào)控:
- 抗原親和力與劑量是決定初始T細(xì)胞命運(yùn)的重要早期信號(hào) [15]
- 外源和內(nèi)源細(xì)胞因子的種類、濃度及比例,則決定分化是呈現(xiàn)突變式還是漸進(jìn)式變化 [16]
- 例如,IL-2可調(diào)節(jié)Foxp3 expression,從而影響誘導(dǎo)型Treg的形成 [17]
在細(xì)胞內(nèi)調(diào)控層面,Bcl6、Maf、ThPOK、Runx3、Eomes等轉(zhuǎn)錄因子參與塑造不同CD4+ T細(xì)胞亞群的命運(yùn)與功能 [13], [18-19]。這些因子相互拮抗或協(xié)同,使CD4+ T細(xì)胞能夠根據(jù)感染、炎癥或腫瘤等不同微環(huán)境進(jìn)行動(dòng)態(tài)重塑,從而體現(xiàn)出較強(qiáng)的可塑性。這種可塑性既是免疫應(yīng)答靈活性的基礎(chǔ),也增加了疾病研究和治療干預(yù)的復(fù)雜性。
3.3 CD4+ T細(xì)胞的增殖、存活與代謝重編程
CD4+ T細(xì)胞在活化后需要經(jīng)歷快速增殖,并通過(guò)代謝重編程滿足效應(yīng)功能需求。其增殖與存活受IL-7等細(xì)胞因子支持,同時(shí)也受代謝途徑、線粒體狀態(tài)及細(xì)胞內(nèi)能量平衡調(diào)控 [27]。不同亞群在代謝模式上存在差異,例如炎癥性效應(yīng)T細(xì)胞通常偏向糖酵解,而調(diào)節(jié)性T細(xì)胞則更多依賴氧化代謝。代謝狀態(tài)不僅影響細(xì)胞生存,也決定其分化方向和功能輸出,因此代謝調(diào)控已成為理解CD4+ T細(xì)胞穩(wěn)態(tài)與疾病關(guān)聯(lián)的重要切入點(diǎn)。
4. 調(diào)控CD4+ T細(xì)胞功能的關(guān)鍵信號(hào)通路
4.1 TCR近端信號(hào)與鈣調(diào)神經(jīng)磷酸酶-NFAT通路
TCR近端信號(hào)是CD4+ T細(xì)胞活化的起點(diǎn)。CD4通過(guò)協(xié)助MHC II識(shí)別并招募Lck,促進(jìn)CD3鏈ITAM磷酸化,進(jìn)而激活ZAP-70等下游信號(hào)分子。隨后,鈣離子信號(hào)與鈣調(diào)神經(jīng)磷酸酶-NFAT通路被激活,驅(qū)動(dòng)效應(yīng)基因表達(dá)并調(diào)節(jié)T細(xì)胞分化與功能輸出。該通路對(duì)T細(xì)胞早期命運(yùn)決定具有基礎(chǔ)性作用。
4.2 JAK/STAT信號(hào)通路
JAK/STAT通路是細(xì)胞因子調(diào)控CD4+ T細(xì)胞分化的核心通路之一。不同細(xì)胞因子可通過(guò)激活不同STAT成員,促進(jìn)Th1、Th17或Treg等亞群形成。相關(guān)研究表明,某些天然產(chǎn)物或免疫調(diào)節(jié)因子可通過(guò)抑制STAT1、STAT3 or STAT5活性,改變Th1/Th17與Treg之間的平衡,從而在炎癥和自身免疫性疾病中發(fā)揮治療潛力 [9-10]。
4.3 TGF-β/SMAD與Notch信號(hào)通路
TGF-β/SMAD通路在Treg形成、免疫耐受維持及炎癥調(diào)控中具有重要地位;Notch信號(hào)則在T細(xì)胞發(fā)育、分化和功能塑造中發(fā)揮輔助調(diào)節(jié)作用。這兩類通路并非孤立存在,而是與JAK/STAT等通路交互作用,共同參與CD4+ T細(xì)胞命運(yùn)調(diào)控。
4.4 cGAS/STING通路與免疫代謝關(guān)聯(lián)
cGAS/STING通路最初主要被認(rèn)為參與胞質(zhì)DNA感知與先天免疫激活,但近年來(lái)研究提示,該通路同樣會(huì)影響腫瘤免疫環(huán)境和T細(xì)胞功能狀態(tài)。代謝應(yīng)激、線粒體DNA釋放等事件可激活該通路,進(jìn)而誘導(dǎo)I型干擾素反應(yīng),并影響腫瘤浸潤(rùn)免疫細(xì)胞組成及CD4+ T細(xì)胞功能 [29]。
4.5 cAMP及其他相關(guān)通路
cAMP信號(hào)在CD4+ T細(xì)胞免疫調(diào)控中同樣具有重要意義。相關(guān)研究顯示,F(xiàn)orskolin等cAMP通路激活劑能夠調(diào)節(jié)自身免疫性炎癥中的CD4+ T cell反應(yīng),并與中樞神經(jīng)系統(tǒng)炎癥緩解相關(guān) [32]。此外,多條信號(hào)通路之間存在廣泛串?dāng)_,共同決定CD4+ T cell在不同疾病背景下的功能狀態(tài) [28]。
5. CD4+ T細(xì)胞在疾病發(fā)生發(fā)展中的作用
5.1 HIV/AIDS發(fā)病機(jī)制
HIV感染最典型地體現(xiàn)了CD4在疾病中的核心地位。CD4既是免疫功能評(píng)估的重要指標(biāo),也是HIV入侵宿主細(xì)胞的重要相關(guān)分子。CD4+ T cell數(shù)量下降直接反映免疫系統(tǒng)受損程度,而病毒載量、宿主個(gè)體差異及免疫重建能力等因素共同決定疾病進(jìn)展速度。因此,CD4計(jì)數(shù)長(zhǎng)期以來(lái)一直是HIV感染管理與療效評(píng)估的重要參數(shù)。
5.2 自身免疫性疾病與炎癥
在類風(fēng)濕關(guān)節(jié)炎、系統(tǒng)性紅斑狼瘡、實(shí)驗(yàn)性自身免疫性腦脊髓炎等疾病中,CD4+ T cell亞群失衡是關(guān)鍵病理機(jī)制之一。尤其是Th17/Treg失衡,常與慢性炎癥放大和組織損傷相關(guān) [9-10]。多種代謝干預(yù)、細(xì)胞療法及信號(hào)通路調(diào)節(jié)策略,均顯示出通過(guò)重塑CD4+ T cell功能來(lái)緩解疾病的潛力 [26], [30]。
5.3 癌癥免疫與免疫治療
在腫瘤免疫中,CD4+ T cell既能輔助CD8+ T cell發(fā)揮殺傷作用,也可獨(dú)立介導(dǎo)抗腫瘤免疫,甚至作為療效預(yù)測(cè)生物標(biāo)志物。這說(shuō)明,CD4+ T cell不僅是腫瘤免疫中的"輔助者",在一定條件下也可能是關(guān)鍵"執(zhí)行者"。
5.4 其他感染性疾病
除HIV外,CD4+ T cell在流感等急慢性感染中同樣發(fā)揮重要作用。特別是CD4 CTL的發(fā)現(xiàn),提示CD4+ T cell在抗病毒過(guò)程中不僅負(fù)責(zé)調(diào)控,也可直接參與感染細(xì)胞清除 [1]。這拓展了對(duì)CD4+ T cell在感染免疫中功能邊界的理解。
6. CD4靶向藥物最新研究進(jìn)展
目前,靶向CD4的藥物類型多樣,涵蓋單抗、雙抗、CAR-T及小分子藥物;在研適應(yīng)癥以HIV感染為主,并拓展至特應(yīng)性皮炎、腫瘤等領(lǐng)域;研發(fā)階段覆蓋已上市品種至臨床早期,部分在研管線列舉如下。
| 藥物 | 靶點(diǎn) | 藥物類型 | 在研適應(yīng)癥 | 在研機(jī)構(gòu) | 最高研發(fā)階段 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 艾巴利珠單抗 | CD4 x Viral fusion proteins | 雙特異性抗體 | HIV感染 | Theratechnologies, Inc. | 批準(zhǔn)上市 |
| Semzuvolimab | CD4 | 單克隆抗體 | HIV感染 | 聯(lián)生藥大中華控股有限公司 | 聯(lián)合生物制藥股份有限公司 | 聯(lián)亞藥業(yè)股份有限公司 | 臨床3期 |
| Mosedipimod | CD4 x CD8 | 小分子化藥 | 中度特應(yīng)性皮炎 | 重度特應(yīng)性皮炎 | 代謝功能障礙相關(guān)脂肪性肝炎 | ENZYCHEM LIFESCIENCES Corp. | 臨床2期 |
| Iotivibart | CD4 x HIV envelope protein gp120 | 單克隆抗體 | HIV感染 | ViiV Healthcare UK Ltd. | ViiV Healthcare Ltd. | 臨床2期 |
| TMB-365 | CD4 | 單克隆抗體 | HIV感染 | 中裕新藥股份有限公司 | 臨床2期 |
| IB-MS | CD4 x CD8 | 小分子化藥 | 多發(fā)性硬化癥 | INNOBIOSCIENCE LLC | 臨床2期 |
| CD4 CAR T cell therapy (iCell Gene Therapeutics) | CD4 | 自體CAR-T | 慢性粒單核細(xì)胞白血病 | T細(xì)胞白血病 | T細(xì)胞淋巴瘤 | iCell Gene Therapeutics, Inc. | 臨床1期 |
| IT-1208(Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.) | CD4 | 單克隆抗體 | 腫瘤 | IDAC Theranostics, Inc. | Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. | 臨床1期 |
| Autologous CD4 CAR T-cells(Indiana University) | CD4 | 自體CAR-T | 難治性急性髓細(xì)胞白血病 | 復(fù)發(fā)性急性髓細(xì)胞白血病 | iCell Gene Therapeutics, Inc. | 臨床1期 |
| VRCHIVMAB0115-00-AB | CD4 | 單克隆抗體 | HIV感染 | National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases | 臨床1期 |
| BG-8962 | CD4 | 生物藥 | HIV感染 | National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases | 臨床1期 |
| LM49 | CD4 | 小分子化藥 | 糖尿病腎病 | 山西醫(yī)科大學(xué) | 山西中醫(yī)藥大學(xué) | 臨床1期 |
(數(shù)據(jù)截止到2026年3月16日,來(lái)源于synapse)
7. CD4研究工具
CD4不僅是輔助性T細(xì)胞的重要表面分子,更是連接抗原識(shí)別、信號(hào)轉(zhuǎn)導(dǎo)、細(xì)胞分化和疾病進(jìn)程的關(guān)鍵樞紐。圍繞CD4及CD4+ T cell的研究,已經(jīng)從傳統(tǒng)的"輔助功能"拓展到細(xì)胞毒性、代謝調(diào)控、組織微環(huán)境適應(yīng)和疾病持續(xù)化機(jī)制等多個(gè)層面。華美生物提供CD4重組蛋白、抗體及ELISA試劑盒產(chǎn)品,助力您進(jìn)行相關(guān)機(jī)制研究及靶向藥物開(kāi)發(fā)。
[1] Deborah M. Brown, Anna T. Lampe, Aspen M. Workman. (2016). The Differentiation and Protective Function of Cytolytic CD4 T Cells in Influenza Infection.
[2] Tomas Lukes, Daniela Glatzova, Zuzana Kvicalova, Florian Levet, Ales Benda, Tomas Brdicka, Theo Lasser, Marek Cebecauer. (2017). Quantifying protein densities on cell membranes using super-resolution optical fluctuation imaging.
[3] Mika?l Simard, Zhuoyan Shen, Konstantin Br?utigam, Rasha Abu-Eid, Maria A. Hawkins, Charles-Antoine Collins-Fekete. (2024). Immunocto: a massive immune cell database auto-generated for histopathology.
[4] Xin Shu, Sameera Sansre, Di Jin, Xiangxiang Zeng, Kai-Yu Tong, Rishikesh Pandey, Renjie Zhou. (2020). Artificial Intelligence Enabled Reagent-free Imaging Hematology Analyzer.
[5] D. Rider, C. Havenith, R. De Ridder, J. Schuurman, C. Favre, J. Cooper, S. Walker, O. Baadsgaard, S. Marschner, Jan G J vandeWinkel, J. Cambier, P. Parren, D. Alexander. (2007). A human CD4 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of T-cell lymphoma combines inhibition of T-cell signaling by a dual mechanism with potent Fc-dependent effector activity.
[6] J. T. Ulrich-Lewis, K. Draves, Kelsey Roe, M. O'Connor, E. Clark, D. Fuller. (2022). STING Is Required in Conventional Dendritic Cells for DNA Vaccine Induction of Type I T Helper Cell- Dependent Antibody Responses.
[7] Constance Renault, N. Veyrenche, F. Mennechet, A. Bedin, J. Routy, P. Van de Perre, J. Reynes, E. Tuaillon. (2022). Th17 CD4+ T-Cell as a Preferential Target for HIV Reservoirs.
[8] Rong Wang, Keliang Huang. (2020). CCL11 increases the proportion of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells and the production of IL-2 and TGF-β by CD4+ T cells via the STAT5 signaling pathway.
[9] Jiaxu Qin, Xiangwei Zheng, Yancheng He, Yang Hong, Shuang Liang, X. Fang. (2022). The regulation of T helper cell polarization by the diterpenoid fraction of Rhododendron molle based on the JAK/STAT signaling pathway.
[10] Fanping Wang, Yonghui Yang, Zhixin Li, Yan Wang, Zhenchao Zhang, Wei Zhang, Yonghui Mu, Jing-ke Yang, Lili Yu, Mingyong Wang. (2022). Mannan-Binding Lectin Regulates the Th17/Treg Axis Through JAK/STAT and TGF-β/SMAD Signaling Against Candida albicans Infection.
[11] R. Deng, C. Hurtz, Qingxiao Song, Chanyu Yue, G. Xiao, Hua Yu, Xiwei Wu, M. Muschen, S. Forman, P. Martin, D. Zeng. (2017). Extrafollicular CD4+ T-B interactions are sufficient for inducing autoimmune-like chronic graft-versus-host disease.
[12] Laura M. Fahey, Elizabeth B. Wilson, Heidi J. Elsaesser, Chris Fistonich, D. McGavern, D. Brooks. (2011). Viral persistence redirects CD4 T cell differentiation toward T follicular helper cells.
[13] A. Dejean, Emeline Joulia, T. Walzer. (2018). The role of Eomes in human CD4 T cell differentiation: A question of context.
[14] Yuki Sato, Abhinav Jain, Shozo Ohtsuki, Hirohisa Okuyama, Ines Sturmlechner, Yoshinori Takashima, Kevin-Phu C. Le, Melanie C. Bois, Gerald J. Berry, K. Warrington, J. Goronzy, C. Weyand. (2023). Stem-like CD4+ T cells in perivascular tertiary lymphoid structures sustain autoimmune vasculitis.
[15] S. Keck, M. Schmaler, S. Ganter, Lena Wyss, Susanne G. Oberle, E. Huseby, D. Zehn, C. King. (2014). Antigen affinity and antigen dose exert distinct influences on CD4 T-cell differentiation.
[16] M. Martínez-Sánchez, L. Huerta, E. álvarez-Buylla, Carlos Villarreal Luján. (2018). Role of Cytokine Combinations on CD4+ T Cell Differentiation, Partial Polarization, and Plasticity: Continuous Network Modeling Approach.
[17] E. Zorn, E. Nelson, M. Mohseni, F. Porcheray, Haesook T. Kim, Despina Litsa, R. Bellucci, E. Raderschall, C. Canning, R. Soiffer, D. Frank, J. Ritz. (2006). IL-2 regulates FOXP3 expression in human CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells through a STAT-dependent mechanism and induces the expansion of these cells in vivo.
[18] M. Kroenke, D. Eto, M. Locci, Michael Cho, T. Davidson, E. Haddad, S. Crotty. (2012). Bcl6 and Maf Cooperate To Instruct Human Follicular Helper CD4 T Cell Differentiation.
[19] Megan A. Luckey, M. Kimura, A. Waickman, L. Feigenbaum, A. Singer, Jung-Hyun Park. (2014). The transcription factor ThPOK suppresses Runx3 and imposes CD4+ lineage fate by inducing the SOCS suppressors of cytokine signaling.
[20] Qingtian Li, Jia Zou, Mingjun Wang, Xilai Ding, I. Chepelev, Xikun Zhou, Wei Zhao, Gang Wei, J. Cui, K. Zhao, Helen Y Wang, Rong-Fu Wang. (2014). Critical role of histone demethylase Jmjd3 in the regulation of CD4+ T-cell differentiation.
[21] Y. Shu, Qinghua Hu, H. Long, Christopher Chang, Q. Lu, R. Xiao. (2017). Epigenetic Variability of CD4+CD25+ Tregs Contributes to the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Diseases.
[22] Sarah A. LaMere, Ryan C. Thompson, Xiangzhi Meng, H. Komori, Adam M. Mark, D. Salomon. (2017). H3K27 Methylation Dynamics during CD4 T Cell Activation: Regulation of JAK/STAT and IL12RB2 Expression by JMJD3.
[23] M. Martínez-Sánchez, L. Mendoza, C. Villarreal, E. álvarez-Buylla. (2015). A Minimal Regulatory Network of Extrinsic and Intrinsic Factors Recovers Observed Patterns of CD4+ T Cell Differentiation and Plasticity.
[24] B. L. Puniya, R. G. Todd, Akram Mohammed, Deborah M. Brown, Matteo Barberis, T. Helikar. (2018). A Mechanistic Computational Model Reveals That Plasticity of CD4+ T Cell Differentiation Is a Function of Cytokine Composition and Dosage.
[25] V. Proserpio, A. Piccolo, Liora Haim-Vilmovsky, G. Kar, T. L?nnberg, Valentine Svensson, J. Pramanik, K. Natarajan, Weichao Zhai, Xiuwei Zhang, G. Donati, M. Kayikci, J. Kotar, A. McKenzie, Ruddy Montandon, O. Billker, S. Woodhouse, P. Cicuta, M. Nicodemi, S. Teichmann. (2016). Single-cell analysis of CD4+ T-cell differentiation reveals three major cell states and progressive acceleration of proliferation.
[26] S. Tullius, H. Biefer, Suyan Li, A. Trachtenberg, K. Edtinger, M. Quante, Felix Krenzien, H. Uehara, Xiaoyong Yang, H. Kissick, W. Kuo, I. Ghiran, M. A. de la Fuente, M. Arredouani, Virginia Camacho, J. Tigges, Vasilis Toxavidis, Rachid El Fatimy, Brian D. Smith, A. Vasudevan, A. Elkhal. (2014). NAD+ protects against EAE by regulating CD4+ T-cell differentiation.
[27] Nizar Chetoui, M. Boisvert, S. Gendron, F. Aoudjit. (2010). Interleukin‐7 promotes the survival of human CD4+ effector/memory T cells by up‐regulating Bcl‐2 proteins and activating the JAK/STAT signalling pathway.
[28] M. S. Alam, Y. Maekawa, A. Kitamura, K. Tanigaki, T. Yoshimoto, K. Kishihara, K. Yasutomo. (2010). Notch signaling drives IL-22 secretion in CD4+ T cells by stimulating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor.
[29] Shengpan Wu, Baojun Wang, Hong-zhao Li, Hanfeng Wang, Songliang Du, Xing Huang, Yang Fan, Yu Gao, L. Gu, Qingbo Huang, Jianjun Chen, Xu Zhang, Yan Huang, Xin Ma. (2024). Targeting STING elicits GSDMD-dependent pyroptosis and boosts anti-tumor immunity in renal cell carcinoma.
[30] Dongmei Li, Idalia Cruz, Yahui Feng, Maha Moussa, Jie Cheng, Digvijay Patil, Alexander Kroemer, Joseph A. Bellanti. (2025). Divergent Immunomodulatory Roles of Fungal DNA in Shaping Treg and Inflammatory Responses.
[31] C. Elsner, Aparna Ponnurangam, J. Kazmierski, T. Zillinger, Jenny Jansen, D. Todt, K. D?hner, Shuting Xu, A. Ducroux, Nils Kriedemann, Angelina Malassa, P. Larsen, G. Hartmann, W. Barchet, E. Steinmann, U. Kalinke, B. Sodeik, C. Goffinet. (2020). Absence of cGAS-mediated type I IFN responses in HIV-1--infected T cells.
[32] Tatyana Veremeyko, Amanda W. Y. Yung, M. Dukhinova, Inna S. Kuznetsova, I. Pomytkin, A. Lyundup, T. Strekalova, N. Barteneva, E. Ponomarev. (2018). Cyclic AMP Pathway Suppress Autoimmune Neuroinflammation by Inhibiting Functions of Encephalitogenic CD4 T Cells and Enhancing M2 Macrophage Polarization at the Site of Inflammation.






