Proteomic analysis of T cell differentiation

T helper cells (Th) play an important role guarding, regulating and modulating immune responses. The different Th lineages fulfill different tasks in response to infections. The two best defined subtypes are Th1 (involved in cellular immunity) and Th2 (humoral immunity). The cytokine environment after activation determines the differentiation path of a Th cell. We defined a strategy to investigate the differentiation signature of T helper cells with a proteomics approach. Murine primary naïve CD4+ T-cells from spleen were differentiated and activated in vitro. After 3 days of differentiation proteins were analysed. The proteomic profile of the Th1 and Th2 cells will help understand these phenotypes better, which is important in finding therapeutic targets for disease and for the development of effective vaccines.