Activation of CXCR3⁺ Tfh cells and B cells in lymph nodes during acute HIV-1 infection correlates with HIV-specific antibody development.

ABSTRACT: Lymph node T follicular helper (Tfh) cells and germinal center (GC) B cells are critical to generate potent antibodies but are rarely possible to study in humans. To understand how Tfh/GC B-cell interactions during acute HIV-1 infection (AHI) impact the generation of HIV-specific antibodies, we performed a unique cross-sectional analysis of inguinal lymph node biopsies taken prior to antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation in AHI. Although total Tfh and GC B cell frequencies did not change during AHI, increased frequencies of proliferating Th1-like CXCR3⁺ Tfh, CXCR3⁺ non-GC B cells, and total CXCR3⁺ GC B cells correlated with gp120-specific IgG antibody levels in AHI. Frequencies of proliferating CXCR3⁺ Tfh in AHI also correlated with gp120-speci

SUBMITTER: Mitchell JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11915809 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature