A fresh look at the T helper subset dogma

Abstract

Single-cell sequencing techniques enable the decades-old T helper subset dogma to be approached in an unsupervised manner, bringing nuances to the definition of known subsets, while simultaneously identifying interesting novel cell states.

Figure 1. CD4⁺ T cell effector flavors.

Kiner et al. demonstrate that the in vivo CD4⁺ effector T cell pool generated in response to various pathogens cannot be easily parsed out into discrete T helper lineages, but instead forms a continuum of polarized phenotypes, and is shaped by the specific pathogen.