Human circulating PD-1+CXCR3-CXCR5+ memory Tfh cells are highly functional and correlate with broadly neutralizing HIV antibody responses.

ABSTRACT: The vast majority of currently licensed human vaccines work on the basis of long-term protective antibody responses. It is now conceivable that an antibody-dependent HIV vaccine might be possible, given the discovery of HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) in some HIV-infected individuals. However, these antibodies are difficult to develop and have characteristics indicative of a high degree of affinity maturation in germinal centers (GCs). CD4⁺ T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are specialized for B cell help and necessary for GCs. Therefore, the development of HIV bnAbs might depend on Tfh cells. Here, we identified in normal individuals a subpopulation of circulating memory PD-1⁺CXCR5⁺CD4⁺ T cells that are resting memory cells most related to bona fide GC Tfh cells by gene expressi

SUBMITTER: Locci M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3996844 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature