title: Follicular T-helper cells: controlled localization and cellular interactions.
abstract: Affinity-matured, isotype-switched antibodies afford humoral protection against microbial infections. Cells capable of producing such antibodies are derived from the germinal center (GC) formed during a T-dependent B-cell response. Follicular T-helper (TFH) cells are a recently defined subset of CD4 T cells that are specialized in promoting the B-cell response and GC reaction. These cells exhibit a CXCR5(+)ICOS(hi)PD-1(hi) surface phenotype, express a high level of transcriptional repressor Bcl-6 and possess a unique ability to reside in the GC. Insights into how TFH cells develop and function promise to refine our strategies toward more effective antibody-based vaccines and therapies for humoral autoimmunity. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of how TFH-associated molecules regulate dynamic localization and B-cell-interacting properties of these cells, as both aspects are at the core of being TFH cells.
authors.affiliation: Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Coco
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Peiwen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Heping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jiacong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*