Germinal center B and follicular helper T cells: siblings, cousins or just good friends?

Author(s): Nutt, SL; Tarlinton, DM;
Details: Publication Year 2011-06,Volume 12,Issue #6,Page 472-477
Journal Title: NATURE IMMUNOLOGY
Publication Type: Journal Article
Abstract: Humoral immunity requires interaction between specialized populations of B cells and CD4(+) T cells, called follicular helper T cells (T(FH) cells), in the germinal center (GC) to produce memory B cells and long-lived plasma cells. Molecular crosstalk between GC B cells and T(FH) cells influences the survival, proliferation and differentiation of each cell type. This pairing of GC B cells and T(FH) cells also occurs at the transcriptional level as the Bcl-6-IRF4-Blimp-1 axis, which is crucial for B cell differentiation, is also essential for the T(FH) cell identity. Less is known about the memory B cells that arise from the GC pool, as they seem to be distinctly 'programmed' on the basis of their antigen receptor affinity to enter the long-lived memory pool.
Publisher: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
Keywords: CXC CHEMOKINE RECEPTOR-5; ANTIBODY-FORMING-CELLS; LIVED PLASMA-CELLS; AFFINITY MATURATION; IMMUNE-RESPONSE; HELMINTH INFECTION; GENE-EXPRESSION; DENDRITIC CELLS; IL-21 RECEPTOR; CLASS-SWITCH
Publisher's Version: https://doi.org/10.1038/ni.2019
Terms of Use/Rights Notice: Refer to copyright notice on published article.

Creation Date: 2011-06-01 12:00:00