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PMID: 21739672 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

T cell exhaustion.

Nature immunology ·Vol. 12 ·No. 6 ·2011-06-00 ·Pages 492-9

Wherry EJ

Abstract

T cell exhaustion is a state of T cell dysfunction that arises during many chronic infections and cancer. It is defined by poor effector function, sustained expression of inhibitory receptors and a transcriptional state distinct from that of functional effector or memory T cells. Exhaustion prevents optimal control of infection and tumors. Recently, a clearer picture of the functional and phenotypic profile of exhausted T cells has emerged and T cell exhaustion has been defined in many experimental and clinical settings. Although the pathways involved remain to be fully defined, advances in the molecular delineation of T cell exhaustion are clarifying the underlying causes of this state of differentiation and also suggest promising therapeutic opportunities.

MeSH Terms
Animals Bacterial Infections/immunology CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology,metabolism Cytokines/immunology,metabolism Humans Immunologic Memory/immunology Inflammation Mediators/immunology,metabolism Models, Immunological T-Lymphocytes/immunology,metabolism Virus Diseases/immunology
Chemicals
Cytokines Inflammation Mediators
Authors & Affiliations
1 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Wherry E John
Department of Microbiology, Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. wherry@mail.med.upenn.edu
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Article Info
Journal
Nature immunology
Abbr.
Nat Immunol
ISSN
1529-2916
DOI
10.1038/ni.2035
Email
wherry@mail.med.upenn.edu
Published
2011-06-00
Pages
492-9
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
100941354
Subset
IM
Grants
NIAID NIH HHS · AI071309 · United States
NIAID NIH HHS · AI082630 · United States
NIAID NIH HHS · AI083022 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1038/ni.2035 View journal details
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