Pathogenesis of Glutathione Deficiency in the Immune Response: Summary
Glutathione levels in antigen-presenting cells modulate Th1 versus Th2 response patterns.
Antigen presentation and recognition are required to initiate immune responses.
Key events that determine whether IFN-? is produced occur almost immediately.
IFN-? production predominates when GSH levels are high.
GSH depletion may play a key role in exacerbating HIV and other infectious diseases in which Th2 predominance is an important aspect of the disease pathology.