Follicular regulatory T cells repress cytokine production by follicular helper T cells and optimize IgG responses in mice.

ABSTRACT: Follicular helper T (Tfh) cells provide crucial help to germinal center B (GCB) cells for proper antibody production, and a specialized subset of regulatory T cells, follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells, modulate this process. However, Tfr-cell function in the GC is not well understood. Here, we define Tfr cells as a CD4(+) Foxp3(+) CXCR5(hi) PD-1(hi) CD25(low) TIGIT(high) T-cell population. Furthermore, we have used a novel mouse model ("Bcl6FC") to delete the Bcl6 gene in Foxp3(+) T cells and thus specifically deplete Tfr cells. Following immunization, Bcl6FC mice develop normal Tfh- and GCB-cell populations. However, Bcl6FC mice produce altered antigen-specific antibody responses, with reduced titers of IgG and significantly increased IgA. Bcl6FC mice also developed IgG antibodies with s

SUBMITTER: Wu H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4896226 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature