So I’ve read a part of Janeway’s Immunobiology and found something that I’d not thought about before. Activated T helper cells, even after commitment, still need signals from cytokines in order to continue to perform their effector functions. For example, activated Th1 cells still need a signal from IL-12 through IL-12 receptor and activated Th17 cells still need a signal from IL-23 in order to provide a protective response.

Thus, much like Rafa Nadal still need constant nagging and guidance from his uncle & coach and us scientists still need constant nagging and guidance from our parents and partners, committed T cells still need constant nagging from the their inflammatory environment to perform.

Baby Immunologist