title: Follicular helper T cells as cognate regulators of B cell immunity.
abstract: Follicular helper T (T(FH)) cells are a class of helper T cells specialized in the cognate control of antigen-specific B cell immunity. Upon first contact with antigen-primed B cells, pregerminal center effector T(FH) cells promote B cell clonal expansion, antibody isotype switch, plasma cell differentiation, and the induction of germinal centers. By contrast, within germinal centers, T(FH) cells regulate the fate of antigen-specific GC B cells expressing high-affinity variant B cell receptors to promote memory B cell and long-lived plasma cell development. Recent studies unravel multiple signals controlling T(FH) development and functional subtypes of antigen-specific T(FH) cells, including memory T(FH) cells that accelerate memory B cell responses to antigen rechallenge in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Louise J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: McHeyzer-Williams
authors.forename: Nadege
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fazilleau
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: McHeyzer-Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology*; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D018448:Models, Immunological; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*