Development and function of follicular helper T cells.
Most currently available vaccines rely on the induction of long-lasting protective humoral immune responses by memory B cells and plasma cells. Antibody responses against most antigens require interactions between antigen-specific B cells and CD4(+) T cells. Follicular helper T cells (TFH cells) are specialized subset of T cells that provide help to B cells and are essential for germinal center formation, affinity maturation, and the development of high-affinity antibodies. TFH-cell differentiation is a multistage process involving B-cell lymphoma 6 and other transcription factors, cytokines, and costimulation through inducible costimulator (ICOS) and several other molecules. This article reviews recent advances in our understanding of TFH cell biology, including their differentiation, transcriptional regulation, and function.
['Ise|Wataru|W|']
D000906:Antibodies D000941:Antigens D001402:B-Lymphocytes D002450:Cell Communication D002454:Cell Differentiation D016207:Cytokines D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins D005786:Gene Expression Regulation D018858:Germinal Center D006801:Humans D056724:Immunity, Humoral D060889:Inducible T-Cell Co-Stimulator Protein D010950:Plasma Cells D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6 D015398:Signal Transduction D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer D014158:Transcription, Genetic
follicular helper T cells helper T cell germinal center transcription factors antibody production