Inflammation Regulation - So what are TH1, TH2 & TH3 cells?

Immune Components.

These cells are integral components of the immune response. they normally circulate as undifferentiated T-helper cells and develop in to TH1, TH2 or TH3 cells depending on which antigen to which they are exposed. They secrete different messengers (cytokines) which then gerenate the appropriate immune response.

TH1 cells generally react to fungal virus infections and release tumour necrosis factor (TNF), Interleukin - 2(IL-2) and IFN - y that directly attack the antigen.

Stimulation of TH2 cells will produce antibodies to the antigen and also release proinflammatory cytokines that are closely involved in the allergic response. Patients with allergies are disposed to TH2 responses.

TH3 cells are regulatory cells that release anti-imflammatory cytokines, especially Transforming Growtn Factor-beta (TGF - B), that down-regulate the TH1 and TH2 responses.