Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (483 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Lymphocytes responsible for cell-mediated immunity. Two types have been identified - cytotoxic (t-lymphocytes, cytotoxic) and helper T-lymphocytes (t-lymphocytes, helper-inducer). They are formed when lymphocytes circulate through the thymus gland and differentiate to thymocytes. When exposed to an antigen, they divide rapidly and produce large numbers of new T cells sensitized to that antigen.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: T-Lymphocyte; T Lymphocytes; T Cell; Cells, T; Cell, T; T Cells; T Lymphocyte; Lymphocytes, T.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Lymphocytes
- Narrower topics
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Natural Killer T-Cells; Precursor Cells, T-Lymphoid; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; Jurkat Cells
- See also
- Immunity, Cellular; Lymphocyte Cooperation; CD4-CD8 Ratio
Related concepts
- T-Lymphocytes
- Cytotoxic
- Helper-Inducer
- Thymus Gland
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 397,660 records tagged with the MeSH heading “T-Lymphocytes” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 69,522 of them (17.5%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 126,868 records.
Reviews account for 52,400 records (13.2%) and meta-analyses for 395. Randomized controlled trials number 3,367 (0.8%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 126,868 |
| 2000-2009 | 93,474 |
| 2010-2019 | 107,796 |
| 2020 onward | 69,522 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 52,400 | 13.2% |
| Meta-analyses | 395 | 0.1% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 3,367 | 0.8% |
Method: PubMed query "T-Lymphocytes"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receptor-tethered orthogonal IL-2 enhances regulatory T cell therapy | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 5 | cc by PMID 42584417 · DOI · PMC13521516 |
| The HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor Fluvastatin Promotes Th2-Skewed Immune Responses by Modulating Dendritic Cell Differentiation | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42680200 · DOI · PMC13533597 |
| Long-term outcomes of anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy in refractory myasthenia gravis: A case series | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42628528 · DOI · PMC13589498 |
Receptor-tethered orthogonal IL-2 enhances regulatory T cell therapy [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Regulatory T cell (Treg) therapy is an emerging platform for controlling immune overactivation.
- Closing excerpt
- Together, these results illustrate a safe and effective cell-engineering solution for overcoming Tregs' dependency on exogenous IL-2, thereby achieving superior therapeutic efficacy.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (158 words)
Regulatory T cell (Treg) therapy is an emerging platform for controlling immune overactivation. Persistence of infused Tregs is limited by insufficient IL-2, which is essential for Treg survival and function. IL-2 activates many immune cells, imposing a challenge for the selective provision of IL-2 to infused Tregs. In this study, we found that infusions of orthogonal (ortho) IL-2 failed to enhance Tregs expressing a corresponding orthoIL-2 receptor (IL-2R) in a mouse model of autoimmune diabetes. Engineering Tregs with an orthoIL-2 tethered to its receptor achieved selective autocrine signaling; increased CD25, CTLA-4, and Foxp3 expression; supported Treg persistence without exogenous IL-2 in vivo; and improved the efficacy of Treg prevention of autoimmune diabetes. Inserting the tethered orthoIL-2 construct into the Foxp3 locus enabled Treg-specific self-reinforced expression through the activation of the Foxp3 locus by increased IL-2 signaling. Together, these results illustrate a safe and effective cell-engineering solution for overcoming Tregs' dependency on exogenous IL-2, thereby achieving superior therapeutic efficacy.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42584417 · DOI · PMC13521516
The HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor Fluvastatin Promotes Th2-Skewed Immune Responses by Modulating Dendritic Cell Differentiation [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Statins, inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase, exert immunomodulatory effects beyond lipid lowering, yet how they regulate T helper (Th) cell differentiation remains poorly understood.
- Closing excerpt
- These findings indicate that continuous fluvastatin exposure during DC differentiation is associated with an altered DC phenotype and enhanced Th2-polarizing capacity.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (178 words)
Statins, inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase, exert immunomodulatory effects beyond lipid lowering, yet how they regulate T helper (Th) cell differentiation remains poorly understood. We show that fluvastatin administration to C57BL/6 mice for 7 days suppressed interferon-γ and elevated interleukin-4 production by splenic CD4+ T cells, shifting the immune balance toward Th2 without altering splenocyte numbers or major immune cell subset proportions. This effect was not shared by rosuvastatin, suggesting that lipophilicity-dependent cellular uptake influences immunomodulatory potency. In vitro experiments confirmed a direct Th2-promoting action of fluvastatin on CD4+ T cells. Basophils were excluded as mediating cells, as fluvastatin suppressed rather than enhanced basophil interleukin-4 production. Continuous fluvastatin exposure during granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-driven dendritic cell (DC) differentiation altered the phenotype of the resulting DCs and markedly enhanced their Th2-polarizing capacity in co-cultures with antigen-specific CD4+ T cells. These functional changes were accompanied by alterations in DC surface molecule expression, although their causal contribution remains to be established. These findings indicate that continuous fluvastatin exposure during DC differentiation is associated with an altered DC phenotype and enhanced Th2-polarizing capacity.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42680200 · DOI · PMC13533597
Long-term outcomes of anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy in refractory myasthenia gravis: A case series [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy represents an emerging therapeutic approach for generalized, treatment-refractory myasthenia gravis (MG), a predominantly B-cell-mediated autoimmune disease for which durable treatment-free remission remains an unmet clinical goal.
- Closing excerpt
- These data support anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy as a durable, effective intervention for refractory MG and warrant further evaluation in prospective controlled clinical trials.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (147 words)
Anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy represents an emerging therapeutic approach for generalized, treatment-refractory myasthenia gravis (MG), a predominantly B-cell-mediated autoimmune disease for which durable treatment-free remission remains an unmet clinical goal. Despite recent advances, current targeted therapies generally require lifelong repeated administration and rarely induce durable treatment-free remission. We report on three patients with severe, treatment-resistant MG, including one patient with concomitant rheumatoid arthritis, treated with autologous, fully human anti-CD19 CAR T cells. All three patients achieve rapid, sustained clinical MG remission for at least 19 months, allowing discontinuation of MG-specific immunotherapies and substantial improvement in clinical and functional outcomes despite persistent detectable anti-AChR autoantibody titers. B cell depletion is profound, and treatment-related adverse events remain transient and manageable during long-term follow-up. These data support anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy as a durable, effective intervention for refractory MG and warrant further evaluation in prospective controlled clinical trials.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42628528 · DOI · PMC13589498
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating FoxP3+ regulatory T cells in cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis [4]
- Research article Meta-analysis of tumor- and T cell-intrinsic mechanisms of sensitization to checkpoint inhibition [5]
- Research article Comprehensive analysis of dengue virus-specific responses supports an HLA-linked protective role for CD8+ T cells [6]
- Research article Interpretation of T cell states from single-cell transcriptomics data using reference atlases [7]
- Research article Single-cell meta-analyses reveal responses of tumor-reactive CXCL13+ T cells to immune-checkpoint blockade [8]
- Research article Tumour-infiltrating inflammation and prognosis in colorectal cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis [9]
References
- Indart AC, Lyu H, Nguyen VQ, Rosenthal W, Palvai JR, Jang SS, et al.. Receptor-tethered orthogonal IL-2 enhances regulatory T cell therapy. . 2026. PMID 42584417 · DOI · PMC13521516
- Ishikawa S, Mizuno H, Murase K, Sasano K, Ogawa I, Itoh Y, et al.. The HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor Fluvastatin Promotes Th2-Skewed Immune Responses by Modulating Dendritic Cell Differentiation. . 2026. PMID 42680200 · DOI · PMC13533597
- Hegelmaier T, Motte J, Walther D, Feist E, Duscha A, Desel C, et al.. Long-term outcomes of anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy in refractory myasthenia gravis: A case series. . 2026. PMID 42628528 · DOI · PMC13589498
- Shang B, Liu Y, Jiang SJ, Liu Y. Prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating FoxP3+ regulatory T cells in cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2015. PMID 26462617 · DOI · PMC4604472
- Litchfield K, Reading JL, Puttick C, Thakkar K, Abbosh C, Bentham R, et al.. Meta-analysis of tumor- and T cell-intrinsic mechanisms of sensitization to checkpoint inhibition. Cell. 2021. PMID 33508232 · DOI · PMC7933824
- Weiskopf D, Angelo MA, de Azeredo EL, Sidney J, Greenbaum JA, Fernando AN, et al.. Comprehensive analysis of dengue virus-specific responses supports an HLA-linked protective role for CD8+ T cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013. PMID 23580623 · DOI · PMC3670335
- Andreatta M, Corria-Osorio J, Müller S, Cubas R, Coukos G, Carmona SJ. Interpretation of T cell states from single-cell transcriptomics data using reference atlases. Nat Commun. 2021. PMID 34017005 · DOI · PMC8137700
- Liu B, Zhang Y, Wang D, Hu X, Zhang Z. Single-cell meta-analyses reveal responses of tumor-reactive CXCL13+ T cells to immune-checkpoint blockade. Nat Cancer. 2022. PMID 36138134 · DOI
- Mei Z, Liu Y, Liu C, Cui A, Liang Z, Wang G, et al.. Tumour-infiltrating inflammation and prognosis in colorectal cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Cancer. 2014. PMID 24504370 · DOI · PMC3960618
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
See how EvidenceLib is built. Spotted an error? Email support@evidencehelix.com.
Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.