Type 2 helper T cell (Th2 cell) (Th2 cell)

Type 2 helper T cells (Th2 cells) are a specialized subset of CD4+ T lymphocytes that coordinate the immune response against extracellular parasites and are the primary drivers of allergic inflammation (Galli et al., Nature, 2008). In the context of house dust mite (HDM) exposure, these cells are activated by allergens like Der p 1, leading to the secretion of a signature profile of cytokines, including interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, and IL-13 (Gregory and Lloyd, Nature Reviews Immunology, 2011). These cytokines promote B-cell isotype switching to IgE, facilitate the recruitment and survival of eosinophils, and induce airway hyperresponsiveness and mucus hypersecretion. While essential for mucosal immunity, the dysregulation of Th2 cells in response to environmental allergens is central to the pathogenesis of allergic asthma and rhinitis (PubMed: 27510459). Therapeutic strategies generally do not target the Th2 cell itself for depletion but instead focus on neutralizing its effector cytokines or blocking their specific receptors to mitigate chronic inflammation (PubMed: 21738203).

Other names

Th2 effector T cellT-helper 2 cellCD4+ Type 2 T cellTh2 lymphocyte

Therapeutic agents target the Th2 pathway by neutralizing secreted cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) or blocking their receptors (IL-4Ra, IL-5Ra, CRTH2) to inhibit the downstream inflammatory cascade (PubMed: 27510459; PubMed: 21738203).