PD-1HIGHFollicular CD4 T helper cell subsets residing in lymph node germinal centers correlate with B cell maturation and IgG production in Rhesus macaques

oleh: Huanbin eXu, Xiaolei eWang, Andrew A Lackner, Ronald S Veazey

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Frontiers Media S.A. 2014-03-01

Deskripsi

Follicular CD4+ T helper (TFH) cells guide development and maturation of B cells and are crucial for effective antibody responses. Here we found rhesus macaque TFH cells, defined as CXCR5+CD4 T cells, contain two major populations: PD-1INT and PD-1HIGH cells. Of these, PD-1HIGHCD4+ T cells highly co-express ICOS but little CCR7, and reside in lymph node germinal centers, but not in blood. These cells secrete IL-21 and express transcriptional factor-Bcl-6 at higher levels than CXCR5+PD-1INTCD4+ T cells. In addition, the frequency of PD-1HIGHCD4+ T cells is low in lymph nodes of newborns, but increases with age. Levels of PD-1HIGHCD4+ T cells correlate with mature B cells in lymph nodes, and PD-1 blockade in PD-1HIGHCD4+T and B cell co-cultures significantly inhibits IgG production. In summary, PD-1HIGHCD4+ T cells residing in GC represent a specific TFH subset that contributes to maturation of B cells and IgG production.