Circulating CXCR3⁺ Tfh cells positively correlate with neutralizing antibody responses in HCV-infected patients.

ABSTRACT: Circulating T follicular helper (cTfh) cells have been identified as counterparts of germinal center Tfh (GC Tfh) cells in humans and can support T-dependent B cell maturation and antibody production in vitro. However, the role of cTfh cells in neutralizing antibody (nAb) responses in HCV infection remains unclear. Here, we characterized the phenotype and function of cTfh cells and demonstrated the associations of cTfh cells and their subsets with nAb responses in HCV infection. A total of 38 HCV-infected individuals and 28 healthy controls were enrolled from a pool of injection drug users. The frequency and function of blood Tfh cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The titers and breadths of serum nAbs were measured using HCV pseudo-particle neutralization assays. Herein, we report seve

SUBMITTER: Zhang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6626020 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature