Expansion of autoreactive follicular helper T (Tfh) cells is tightly restricted to prevent induction of autoantibody-dependent immunological diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here we show expression of an orphan immune regulator, death receptor 6 (DR6/TNFRSF21), on a population of Tfh cells that are highly expanded in lupus-like disease progression in mice. Genome-wide scree...

The production of IL-21 by T follicular helper (Tfh) cells is vital in driving the germinal centre reaction and high affinity antibody formation. However, the degree of Tfh cell heterogeneity and function is not fully understood. We used a novel IL-21eGFP reporter mouse strain to analyze the diversity and role of Tfh cells. Through the analysis of GFP expression in lymphoid organs of IL-21eGFP ...

The success of most vaccines relies on the generation of antibodies to provide protection against subsequent infection; this in turn depends on a robust germinal centre (GC) response that culminates in the production of long-lived antibody-secreting plasma cells. The size and quality of the GC response are directed by a specialised subset of CD4 (+) T cells: T follicular helper (Tfh) cells. Tfh...

Immonoglobulin G4‑related ophthalmic disease (IgG4‑ROD) is a IgG4‑RD and exhibits two main characteristics: Fibrosis that is not necessarily marked histopathologically; and frequent formation of germinal centers (GCs). Follicular B helper T (Tfh) cells are now recognized as the true helper cells for B cells in antibody responses. In the present study, the profile and distribution of Tfh cells i...

Abstract The intestinal immune system is a central modulator of obesity-associated metabolic disease. Particularly, high-affinity IgA maintains gut homeostasis after its generation in germinal center (GC) response that requires functional T follicular helper (Tfh) cells Peyer’s patches (PP). objective this study was to determine how obesity affects Tfh function leading We investigated the pheno...

Development of multiple sclerosis (MS) is frequently preceded by an acute or subacute neurological disturbance referred to as clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). The specific immunological disturbances present in CIS remain underexamined. This study analysed peripheral blood mononuclear cells from n=18 treatment-naive individuals with recently diagnosed CIS (<120 days) for disturbances in the p...

Maturation of high-affinity B lymphocytes is precisely controlled during the germinal center reaction. This is dependent on CD4(+)CXCR5(+) follicular helper T cells (TFH) and inhibited by CD4(+)CXCR5(+)Foxp3(+) follicular regulatory T cells (TFR). Because NFAT2 was found to be highly expressed and activated in follicular T cells, we addressed its function herein. Unexpectedly, ablation of NFAT2...

Background The exact mechanisms behind the immune disturbances in primary Sjögren ́s syndrome (pSS) are still not known in details, but evidence suggests that abnormal Tand B-cell activation plays a critical role in the disease development. Recent studies emphasized the important role of follicular helper T (TFH) cells, which contribute to B-cell proliferation and differentiation, as well as ant...

Viral infections induce the differentiation of naive CD4 T cells into two distinct lineages, Th1 cells and T follicular helper (TFH) cells. Two recent studies demonstrated that the microRNA cluster miR-17-92 selectively promotes CD4 TFH responses. However, we show in this study that miR-17-92 expression is required for the clonal expansion of both virus-specific Th1 and TFH cells. Upon viral in...

BACKGROUND Although in vitro IL-4 directs CD4 T cells to produce T helper 2 (Th2)-cytokines, these cytokines can be induced in vivo in the absence of IL-4-signalling. Thus, mechanism(s), different from the in vitro pathway for Th2-induction, contribute to in vivo Th2-differentiation. The pathway for in vivo IL-4-independent Th2-differentiation has yet to be characterized. FINDINGS Helios (ikz...