Transcriptional regulation of Th1/Th2 polarization

The two polarized T helper (Th) subsets Th1 and Th2 are identified by their signature cytokines, interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) respectively. Understanding the transcriptional regulation of cytokine expression is therefore critical for elucidating the process of Th cell differentiation. Ubiquitous and tissue-specific transcription factors, as well as chromatin remodeling of genomic loci have been implicated in IL-4 and IFN-gamma regulation. We propose a model of Th1/Th2 polarization based on the balance between Th1- and Th2-specific transcription factors.