Involvement of CD80 in the generation of CD4+ cytotoxic T cells

CD4+ T cells can exert different effector functions, which are partly distinguishable by the secretion of different cytokines, namely by either IFN-gamma, IL-2 and lymphotoxins for Th1-like or IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13 for Th2-like T cells. Th1-like T cells can exert cytotoxic functions, too. The cytokinetic phenotype of an activated T cell clone (TCC) is mainly influenced by the cytokinetic pattern of the microenvironment where it was activated. However, the interaction between certain adhesion molecules (i.e. CD28-CD80 and CD28-CD86) may also have an influence on the functionality of the reactive T cell. On the contrary, the requirements for the induction of CD4+ cytotoxic T cells (CD4+ CTLs) are not well understood. We have focused this review on studies investigating the development of CD4+ T cells with cytotoxic effector functions. In particular, we discuss here whether the type of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and the distinct expression of important adhesion molecules like CD80 and CD86 may influence the generation of CD4+ CTLs. Among a large panel of APCs only dendritic cells and TCCs are able to induce cytotoxicity. The level of CD80, but not of CD86, present on the APCs appears to be crucial for the induction of CD4+ CTLs.