Your browser version may not work well with NCBI's Web applications. More information here...
1: Nat Immunol. 2006 Mar;7(3):247-55. Epub 2006 Jan 29.
Related Articles, Links
Click here to read Click here to read
T cells use two directionally distinct pathways for cytokine secretion.

Huse M, Lillemeier BF, Kuhns MS, Chen DS, Davis MM.

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.

Activated T helper cells produce many cytokines, some of which are secreted through the immunological synapse toward the antigen-presenting cell. Here we have used immunocytochemistry, live-cell imaging and a surface-mediated secretion assay to show that there are two cytokine export pathways in T helper cells. Some cytokines, including interleukin 2 and interferon-gamma, were secreted into the synapse, whereas others, including tumor necrosis factor and the chemokine CCL3 (MIP-1alpha), were released multidirectionally. Each secretion pathway was associated with different trafficking proteins, indicating that they are molecularly distinct processes. These data suggest that T helper cells release some cytokines into the immunological synapse to impart specific communication and others multidirectionally to promote inflammation and to establish chemokine gradients.

Publication Types:
PMID: 16444260 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]