Follicular Helper CD4 T Cells (TFH)

S Crotty - Annual review of immunology, 2011 - annualreviews.org
Annual review of immunology, 2011annualreviews.org
T cell help to B cells is a fundamental aspect of adaptive immunity and the generation of
immunological memory. Follicular helper CD4 T (TFH) cells are the specialized providers of
B cell help. TFH cells depend on expression of the master regulator transcription factor Bcl6.
Distinguishing features of TFH cells are the expression of CXCR5, PD-1, SAP (SH2D1A), IL-
21, and ICOS, among other molecules, and the absence of Blimp-1 (prdm1). TFH cells are
important for the formation of germinal centers. Once germinal centers are formed, TFH cells …
T cell help to B cells is a fundamental aspect of adaptive immunity and the generation of immunological memory. Follicular helper CD4 T (TFH) cells are the specialized providers of B cell help. TFH cells depend on expression of the master regulator transcription factor Bcl6. Distinguishing features of TFH cells are the expression of CXCR5, PD-1, SAP (SH2D1A), IL-21, and ICOS, among other molecules, and the absence of Blimp-1 (prdm1). TFH cells are important for the formation of germinal centers. Once germinal centers are formed, TFH cells are needed to maintain them and to regulate germinal center B cell differentiation into plasma cells and memory B cells. This review covers TFH differentiation, TFH functions, and human TFH cells, discussing recent progress and areas of uncertainty or disagreement in the literature, and it debates the developmental relationship between TFH cells and other CD4 T cell subsets (Th1, Th2, Th17, iTreg).
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