TL1A priming induces a multi-cytokine Th9 cell phenotype that promotes robust allergic inflammation in murine models of asthma.

Multi-cytokine-producing Th9 cells secrete IL-9 and type 2 cytokines and mediate mouse and human allergic inflammation. However, the cytokines that promote a multi-cytokine secreting phenotype have not been defined. Tumor necrosis factor superfamily member TL1A signals through its receptor DR3 to increase IL-9.

STAT3 Signaling Heterogeneity Underlies Cytokine-Expressing Fate in Th17 Cultures.

The polarization of naive Th cells into differentiated subsets in vitro was a powerful approach to define the development and function of Th cells in vivo. Th cell cultures identified cytokines that promote polarization and defined the phenotype and stability of differentiated cells. One of the limitations of this approach is the heterogeneity of the differentiated culture, essentially with regard to what proportion of the culture is secreting the hallmark cytokine of interest.