Primary germinal center-resident T follicular helper cells are a physiologically distinct subset of CXCR5^hiPD-1^hi T follicular helper cells.

ABSTRACT: T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are defined by a Bcl6⁺CXCR5^hiPD-1^hi phenotype, but only a minor fraction of these reside in germinal centers (GCs). Here, we examined whether GC-resident and -nonresident Tfh cells share a common physiology and function. Fluorescently labeled, GC-resident Tfh cells in different mouse models were distinguished by low expression of CD90. CD90^neg/lo GCTfh cells required antigen-specific, MHCII⁺ B cells to develop and stopped proliferating soon after differentiation. In contrast, nonresident, CD90^hi Tfh (GCTfh-like) cells developed normally in the absence of MHCII⁺ B cells and proliferated continuously during primary responses. The TCR repertoires of both Tfh subsets overlapped initiall

SUBMITTER: Yeh CH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8842852 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature