Although inflammatory cytokines induced by infection or vaccination with adjuvants have long been known to stimulate optimal antigen-presenting cell function, recent evidence indicates that some inflammatory cytokines also act directly on the responding T cells to control their response to infection. Here, we review the evidence that specific inflammatory cytokines act to control the magnitude of expansion, the degree of contraction, and the rate of memory cell development. These data may suggest new strategies for manipulating vaccine efficacy in the quest to protect against pathogenic microbes.
