title: HIV and T follicular helper cells: a dangerous relationship.
abstract: HIV infection leads to progressive destruction of infected CD4 T cells, hypergammaglobulinemia, and loss of memory B cells. Germinal centers, which are key to memory B cell formation and protective antibody responses, are major HIV reservoirs in which the virus replicates within T follicular helper (TFH) cells. In this issue of the JCI, the Koup and Streeck groups report that chronic SIV/HIV infection promotes TFH cell accumulation, which may drive B cell dysregulation. Their discoveries suggest that HIV harnesses TFH cells to evade the antibody response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogens and Immunity, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. Carola.Vinuesa@anu.edu.au
authors.forename: Carola G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Vinuesa