title: T cell help to B cells in germinal centers: putting the jigsaw together.
abstract: The germinal center (GC) reaction supports the processes of affinity maturation and class switching in B cells that result in long-lasting humoral immunity. CD4(+) T follicular helper cells (Tfh) participate in the GC reaction to help B cells. However, recent studies highlight the heterogeneity of CD4(+) T cells in GCs, which confounds the understanding of Tfh cells. Based on many recent studies, we have tried to form a working model on the niche of Tfh cells in GCs. We have also addressed whether Tfh cells are a distinct lineage and how they may be generated to help B cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbial Technology, A Constituent Laboratory of Council of Scientific Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Uthaman
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gowthaman
authors.forename: Sathi Babu
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Chodisetti
authors.forename: Javed N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Agrewala
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*