Regulation of the germinal center reaction by Foxp3+ follicular regulatory T cells

I Wollenberg, A Agua-Doce, A Hernández… - The Journal of …, 2011 - journals.aai.org
I Wollenberg, A Agua-Doce, A Hernández, C Almeida, VG Oliveira, J Faro, L Graca
The Journal of Immunology, 2011journals.aai.org
Abstract Follicular helper T (T FH) cells participate in humoral responses providing selection
signals to germinal center B cells. Recently, expression of CXCR5, PD-1, and the
transcription factor Bcl-6 has allowed the identification of T FH cells. We found that a
proportion of follicular T cells, with phenotypic characteristics of T FH cells and expressing
Foxp3, are recruited during the course of a germinal center (GC) reaction. These Foxp3+
cells derive from natural regulatory T cells. To establish the in vivo physiologic importance of …
Abstract
Follicular helper T (T FH) cells participate in humoral responses providing selection signals to germinal center B cells. Recently, expression of CXCR5, PD-1, and the transcription factor Bcl-6 has allowed the identification of T FH cells. We found that a proportion of follicular T cells, with phenotypic characteristics of T FH cells and expressing Foxp3, are recruited during the course of a germinal center (GC) reaction. These Foxp3+ cells derive from natural regulatory T cells. To establish the in vivo physiologic importance of Foxp3+ follicular T cells, we used CXCR5-deficient Foxp3+ cells, which do not have access to the follicular region. Adoptive cell transfers of CXCR5-deficient Foxp3+ cells have shown that Foxp3+ follicular T cells are important regulators of the GC reaction following immunization with a thymus-dependent Ag. Our in vivo data show that Foxp3+ follicular T cells can limit the magnitude of the GC reaction and also the amount of secreted Ag-specific IgM, IgG1, IgG2b, and IgA. Therefore, Foxp3+ follicular regulatory T cells appear to combine characteristics of T FH and regulatory T cells for the control of humoral immune responses.
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