Follicular helper T cells as cognate regulators of B cell immunity

• Published in: Current opinion in immunology Vol. 21; no. 3; pp. 266 - 273
• Main Authors: McHeyzer-Williams, Louise J, Pelletier, Nadege, Mark, Linda, Fazilleau, Nicolas, McHeyzer-Williams, Michael G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2009
• Subjects: Allergy and Immunology; Animals; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Germinal Center - cytology; Germinal Center - immunology; Humans; Immunity, Cellular - immunology; Immunologic Memory - immunology; Lymphocyte Activation - immunology; Models, Immunological; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - immunology
• ISSN: 0952-7915; 1879-0372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2009.05.010

Follicular helper T (TFH ) cells are a class of helper T cells specialized in the cognate control of antigen-specific B cell immunity. Upon first contact with antigen-primed B cells, pregerminal center effector TFH cells promote B cell clonal expansion, antibody isotype switch, plasma cell differentiation, and the induction of germinal centers. By contrast, within germinal centers, TFH cells regulate the fate of antigen-specific GC B cells expressing high-affinity variant B cell receptors to promote memory B cell and long-lived plasma cell development. Recent studies unravel multiple signals controlling TFH development and functional subtypes of antigen-specific TFH cells, including memory TFH cells that accelerate memory B cell responses to antigen rechallenge in vivo.