CD4 memory T cells develop and acquire functional competence by sequential cognate interactions and stepwise gene regulation.

ABSTRACT: Memory CD4(+) T cells promote protective humoral immunity; however, how memory T cells acquire this activity remains unclear. This study demonstrates that CD4(+) T cells develop into antigen-specific memory T cells that can promote the terminal differentiation of memory B cells far more effectively than their naive T-cell counterparts. Memory T cell development requires the transcription factor B-cell lymphoma 6 (Bcl6), which is known to direct T-follicular helper (Tfh) cell differentiation. However, unlike Tfh cells, memory T cell development did not require germinal center B cells. Curiously, memory T cells that develop in the absence of cognate B cells cannot promote memory B-cell recall responses and this defect was accompanied by down-regulation of genes associated with homeostasis an

SUBMITTER: Kaji T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4885215 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature