Regulation of the function of CD4 T cells

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Our studies are directed at answering two basic questions concerning how immune responses are regulated: what determines whether or not an antigen, foreign or self, launches an immune response when the antigen impinges upon the immune system? Secondly, what determines, if an immune response is launched, the type of immune response, of which there are two major kinds? For example, the immune system can generate a cell-mediated response, consisting of "cytotoxic T cells", that can kill tumor cells or cells infected by a virus, and/or it can produce antibodies that, for example, neutralize toxins that some pathogenic bacteria produce. Remarkably, the immune system has a way of deciding what type of response to generate: a predominant cell-mediated response, a predominant antibody response, or a mixed response. This "decision" is often critical, as different kinds of immunity are effective against different invaders.