Murine T-Helper Cell Differentiation and Plasticity

CD4+ T helper (TH) cells are key mediators of immunity, and according to their effector functions, they can be divided into different subsets, namely, TH1, TH2, TH17, and TH22. In order to maintain systemic homeostasis and peripheral tolerance, CD4+ TH cells are counterbalanced by CD4+ T cells with regulatory properties, namely, Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Foxp3+TREG) and TR1 cells. Here, we describe how to in vitro differentiate murine naïve CD4+ T cells toward helper (TH1, TH2, TH17, and TH22) and regulatory (Foxp3+TREG and TR1) cells.