Human T helper (Th) cell lineage commitment is not directly linked to the secretion of IFN-gamma or IL-4: Characterization of Th cells isolated by FACS based on IFN-gamma and IL-4 secretion

Upon activation in vitro, only a fraction of the bulk human T helper cell cultures secret the hallmark Th1/2 cytokines (IFN-gamma for Th1 and IL-4 for Th2, respectively). It is uncertain whether these IFN-gamma(-)/IL-4(-) cells are differentiated Th1 or Th2 cells. Here, we have characterized live IFN-gamma(+), IL-4(+) and IFN-gamma(-)/IL-4(-) cells isolated from Th cell cultures treated under Th1 or Th2 polarizing conditions by employing affinity matrix capture technology. RNA samples from the sorted cells were analyzed by real time RTPCR and microarrays. The double negative cells from either Th1 or Th2 cultures expressed lower levels of Th1/Th2 marker cytokine genes (IFN gamma, IL4, and IL5). However, they were comparable with the IFN-gamma(+) or IL-4(+) cells in the expression levels of other Th1/Th2 marker genes (GATA3, Tbet, and IL12R(beta)2). Most importantly, these double negative cells were already committed in their Th1/Th2 lineages. Gene expression profiling analysis showed that very few previously identified Th1/Th2 marker genes were differentially expressed between the IFN-gamma or IL-4 producers and the non-producers, further underscoring the similarity between these two groups.