Cells which produce Cytokines

Cytokines are produced by both resident and migrating cells, such as mast cells, macrophages and neutrophils.   Cytokines produced by lymphocytes are referred to as lymphokines, and cytokines produced by monocytes are referred to as monokines.

Although a variety of cells can secrete cytokines, the 2 main producers are the T_H cell and the macrophage.

T Cells

T cells: produce a series of cytokines. These cytokines are regulated by different families transcription factors, such as NF-κB, AP-1, c-myc, and NF-ATc.

    See Ccytokines Secreted by Th1/Th2

CD8+ T cellsoften secrete a Th1-like cytokine pattern.

Regulatory T (Tr) cells:

    Tr (Tr1) cells: secrete high levels of IL-10 and low to moderate levels of TGF-β. Although it has been demonstrated that Th2 and Tr1 cells secrete IL-10, Tr1 cells do not secrete IL-4.

    Type 3 T (Th3) cells: are a CD4+ Tr cell subset identified in studies of oral tolerance.  TGF-β

    CD4+CD25+ Tr cells:comprise about 5-10% of the peripheral T cell pool and exhibit potent immunosuppressive abilities. The regualtory effect of this Tr cell subset was thought not to be mediated by styokine production by appeared to relate to tehir ability inhibit IL-2 production, by a mechanism dependent on cell-cell contact and expression of the inhibitory costimulatoyr molecule CTLA-4.

    CD8+ Tr cells: secrete either IL-10 or TGF-β.

Macrophages

Dendritic Cells

Natural Killer (NK) Cells

NK cells:  produce IFN-y in response either to IL-12 or to antigen-mediated cross-linking of antibody found to Fc receptors. NK cells also produce TNF. NK cells contribute to the Th1 response. In the lymph nodes, NK cells are an early source of IFNy and they promote proliferation of T cells and polarization towards a Th1 resposne.

Migrating mature DCs and some adjuvants recruit to the draining lymph nodes NK cells that proivde an early source of IFN-y necessary for Th1 polarization.

Mast, B-cells and basophils

These cells produce IL-10.

B cells: produce IFNy in response to IL-12 and IL18 and when primed by Th1 cells. The development of IFNy producing B cells by either Th1 cells or IL-12/IL-18 is dependent on expression of the IFNyR and the T-box transcription factor, T-bet.

Mast cells express both IL-4 and IL-13.