Interleukin-2 inhibits germinal center formation by limiting T follicular helper differentiation

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells promote T-dependent humoral immune responses by providing T cell help to B cells and by promoting germinal center (GC) formation and long-lived antibody responses. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control Tfh differentiation in vivo are incompletely...

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Published inImmunity (Cambridge, Mass.) Vol. 36; no. 5; pp. 847 - 856
Main Authors Ballesteros-Tato, André, León, Beatriz, Graf, Beth A., Moquin, Amy, Adams, Pamela Scott, Lund, Frances E., Randall, Troy D.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 29.03.2012
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Summary:T follicular helper (Tfh) cells promote T-dependent humoral immune responses by providing T cell help to B cells and by promoting germinal center (GC) formation and long-lived antibody responses. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control Tfh differentiation in vivo are incompletely understood. Here we show that interleukin-2 (IL-2) administration impaired influenza-specific GCs, long-lived IgG responses and Tfh cells. IL-2 did not directly inhibit GC formation, but instead suppressed the differentiation of Tfh cells, thereby hindering the maintenance of influenza-specific GC B cells. Our data demonstrate that IL-2 is a critical factor that regulates successful Tfh and B cell responses in vivo and regulates Tfh cell development.
ISSN:1074-7613
1097-4180
DOI:10.1016/j.immuni.2012.02.012