Dissecting CXCR5+ T cell populations--on the quest for a better understanding of B cell help during T dependent antibody responses.
High affinity antibody responses against protein antigens critically depend on T cell help during the germinal center reaction. So called follicular helper T cells (T(FH)), present in the germinal centers of human tonsils, have been characterised by the expression of CXCR5; however, only subgroups of the heterogeneous CXCR5 T cell population strongly support antibody production. A paper in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology demonstrates that high expression of the inducible co-stimulator (ICOS) molecule, rather than CD57, correlates with the follicular helper function. This result represents another step towards a better understanding of the complexity of the different T cell subpopulations participating in the germinal center reaction.
Warnatz
Klaus
K
Div. of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Clinic Freiburg, Hugstetterstrasse 55, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany. klaus.warnatz@uniklinik-freiburg.de
D000917:Antibody Formation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation / Q000276:immunology*; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*
C095085:CXCR5 protein, human; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine