Interleukin-6/STAT3 signaling regulates the ability of naive T cells to acquire B-cell help capacities.

ABSTRACT: The conditions leading to the activation/differentiation of T-helper (Th) cells dedicated for B-cell antibody production are still poorly characterized. We now demonstrate that interleukin-6 (IL-6) promotes the differentiation of naive T lymphocytes into helper cells able to promote B-cell activation and antibody secretion. IL-6-driven acquisition of B-cell help capacity requires expression of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), but not STAT4 or STAT6 transcription factors, suggesting that the ability to provide help to B cells is not restricted to a well-defined Th1 or Th2 effector population. T cell-specific STAT3-deficient mice displayed reduced humoral responses in vivo that could not be related to an altered expansion of CXCR5-expressing helper T cells. IL-

SUBMITTER: Eddahri F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2656270 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature