T cell immune response within B-cell follicles.

T cell immune response within B-cell follicles. Adv Immunol. 2019;144:155-171 Authors: Huang Q, Xu L, Ye L Abstract B-cell follicle represents a functionally dynamic microstructure within second lymphoid tissues, predominantly consisting of B cells, follicular T cells and DCs. Through intimate interactions with cognate B cells, follicular helper T cells (Tfh) initiate and facilitate germinal center (GC) reactions by providing signals required for producing high-affinity antibodies, as well as for the generation of long-lived antibody-secreting plasma cells and memory B cells. Concomitantly, germinal center reaction needs to be fine controlled to avoid autoimmunity or B-cell malignancies. Among immune cells residing in follicles, follicular regulatory T cells (Tfr), converted from naïve Treg cells, are specifically assigned to repress excessive GC responses by suppressing Tfh and GC B cells within GC structure. Hence, through Yin and Yang (positive and negative) regulation of GC reaction, Tfh cells play concert with Tfr cells in maintaining immune homeostasis. Besides CD4+ T cells, a small portion of CXCR5 expressing CD8+ T cells, regarded as follicular cytotoxic T cells (Tfc), could migrate into B cell follicles during chronic viral infection and several types of cancers, and this population exhibit lower level of exhaustion than its CXCR5- counterparts. Besides, Tfc cells demonstrate a stem-cell like phenotype during chronic infect...
Source: Advances in Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Tags: Adv Immunol Source Type: research