Germinal Centers Become Dysfunctional with Age, Impairing the Immune Response

In this study we looked at what was happening to different cell types in the germinal centre, particularly the structure and organisation of the germinal centre across its two functionally distinct zones, to try and understand what causes the reduced germinal centre response with age. What we found is that the T follicular helper cells aren't where they should be and as a result, antibody-producing cells lose essential selection cues. Surprisingly we also uncovered an unknown role for T follicular helper cells in supporting the expansion of follicular dendritic cells in the light zone after vaccination." Having identified the dependencies between the cell types, the researchers used genetically modified mice to control the location of Tfh cells in the germinal centre, demonstrating that the defective FDC response was caused by loss of Tfh from the light zone. Importantly, they were also able to correct the defective FDC response and boost the germinal centre response in aged mice by providing T cells that could correctly colocalize with FDCs using CXCR5 upregulation. Link: https://www.babraham.ac.uk/news/2023/05/lost-immune-cells
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs