Are a specific type of immune cells responsible for activating other immune cells and coordinating immune responses
Produce a variety of cytokines depending on their subset
May develop into specific subsets depending on the cytokine environment and signals received during antigen presentation
Differentiated into 2 types – Th1 cells, which are involved in the defense against intracellular pathogens such as viruses and certain bacteria and Th2 cells, which coordinate antibody responses against extracellular pathogens such as parasites and allergens
Main functions involve activating immune cells and regulating immune responses
Regulatory T cells
Are a specialized subset of T lymphocytes that play a main role in maintaining immune tolerance and preventing excessive immune responses
Produce immunosuppressive cytokines such as interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor beta
May develop as two distinct subsets- natural Tregs and induced Tregs
Differentiated into two types – Natural Tregs, which develop in the thymus during T cell maturation and Induced Tregs, which are generated in the periphery from conventional CD4+ T cells and typically induced by exposure to specific conditions
Main function is to suppress immune responses and maintain immune tolerance