title: Follicular Helper T Cells in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Why Should They Be Considered as Interesting Therapeutic Targets?
abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by B cell hyperactivity leading to the production of autoantibodies, some of which having a deleterious effect. Reducing autoantibody production thus represents a way of controlling lupus pathogenesis, and a better understanding of the molecular and cellular factors involved in the differentiation of B cells into plasma cells could allow identifying new therapeutic targets. Follicular helper T cells (TFH) represent a distinct subset of CD4(+) T cells specialized in providing help to B cells. They are required for the formation of germinal centers and the generation of long-lived serological memory and, as such, are suspected to play a central role in SLE. Recent advances in the field of TFH biology have allowed the identification of important molecular factors involved in TFH differentiation, regulation, and function. Interestingly, some of these TFH-related molecules have been described to be dysregulated in lupus patients. In the present review, we give an overview of the aberrant expression and/or function of such key players in lupus, and we highlight their potential as therapeutic targets.
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Immunopathologie et Chimie Thérapeutique/Laboratory of Excellence MEDALIS, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 67084 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7083-0251
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sawaf
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Immunopathologie et Chimie Thérapeutique/Laboratory of Excellence MEDALIS, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 67084 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2356-1110
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dumortier
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Immunopathologie et Chimie Thérapeutique/Laboratory of Excellence MEDALIS, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 67084 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Fanny
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2554-1300
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monneaux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies