| pubmed-article:15275430 | pubmed:abstractText | The expression of cytolytic activity and production of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) by CD8(+) T cells is thought to play a fundamental role in protection against infection by viruses and intracellular parasites. François Erard and Graham Le Gros have recently shown that CD8(+) T cells activated in the presence of interleukin 4 (IL-4) can switch development to a CD8(-)CD4(-)Th2-like phenotype that is not cytolytic and that does not produce IFN-gamma. Here they speculate on whether this IL-4-induced switch is used by the host to make a more-effective response against parasite invasion, or i f it is a host mechanism used by the parasite to evade protective CD8(+) T-cell responses. | lld:pubmed |
