T helper 2 (Th2) cell

Function

Production of cytokines:

• IL-4
• IL-5
• IL-9

in addition to GM-CSF, IL-2, IL-3, IL-10, IL-13 produced by both Th1 & Th2 cells.

Additional functions:

• assist in antibody production for the humoral response including IgE
• mast cell proliferation
• expression of vascular cell adhesion protein-1 (VCAM-1)
• enhance growth & differentiation of B-cells & eosinophils
• immune response to parasites

Pathology

Present in mucosal tissue of patients with allergic respiratory disease, including asthma.

More general terms

• helper T cell (T4 lymphocyte, CD4+)

Additional terms

• granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor; GM-CSF; colony-stimulating factor 2; molgramostin; sargramostim (CSF2, GMCSF)
• immunoglobulin-E (IgE)
• interleukin-10; IL-10; cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor; CSIF (IL10)
• interleukin-13 (IL13, IL-13, NC30)
• interleukin-2; IL-2; T-cell growth factor; TCGF (IL2)
• interleukin-3
• mast cell
• vascular cell adhesion protein 1; V-CAM 1; INCAM-100; CD106 (VCAM1, L1CAM)