title: Nuclear receptors of the NR4a family are not required for the development and function of follicular T helper cells.
abstract: Follicular T helper (Tfh) cells promote germinal center (GC) reaction and high-affinity antibody production. The molecular mechanisms that regulate development and function of Tfh cells are not fully understood. Here we report that ligand-independent nuclear receptors of the Nr4a family are highly expressed in Tfh cells. In a well-established adoptive transfer model, enforced expression of Nr4a receptors reduces helper T cell expansion but apparently increased the T cell capacity to promote the GC response. On the other hand, deletion of all Nr4a receptors in T cells did not significantly affect expansion or differentiation of Tfh cells or the development of GC reaction. These findings suggest that Nr4a receptors may promote but are not necessary for Tfh development or function in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology Institute for Immunology, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China. Electronic address: mww07@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology Institute for Immunology, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
authors.forename: Ruozhu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology Institute for Immunology, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
authors.forename: Runqing
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology Institute for Immunology, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology Institute for Immunology, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology Institute for Immunology, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
authors.forename: Longyan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Laboratory of Dynamic Immunobiology Institute for Immunology, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China. Electronic address: qihai@tsinghua.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018858:Germinal Center; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D057105:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D057126:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C539818:Nr4a1 protein, mouse; C539883:Nr4a2 protein, mouse; C490411:Nr4a3 protein, mouse; D057105:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1; D057126:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone
keywords: Follicular helper T cells; Germinal Center; Nr4a receptors