Abstract
In the germinal center (GC), follicular helper T (TFH) cells interact with B cells and undergo a series of GC reactions to ultimately produce high-affinity antibodies and memory plasma cells. Recent studies have found a subpopulation of regulatory T cells called follicular regulatory T (TFR) cells. TFR cells can inhibit TFH cells and/or B cells in a variety of ways to specifically regulate GC reactions. Dysfunction of TFR cells may lead to immune disorders and a variety of autoimmune diseases. In this review, we summarize the differentiation and function of TFR cells and provide an overview of TFR cells in autoimmune diseases.
Highlights
Follicular helper T (TFH) cells are specific CD4+ T cells that are generated from naive CD4+ T cells in the periphery of the T cell region of a secondary lymphoid organ and mediate antigen-specific naive or memory B cell activation in the follicles of the secondary lymphoid organ [1, 2]
TFH cells play a key role in B cell activation and antibody production, and their inability to maintain immune homeostasis may lead to immunemediated disease
TFR cell-mediated modulation of TFH and B cell interactions is necessary for a proper germinal center (GC) reaction, and abnormalities in the number or function of TFR cells can result in disorder of the GC reaction, which may lead to the development of an autoimmune response
Summary
In the germinal center (GC), follicular helper T (TFH) cells interact with B cells and undergo a series of GC reactions to produce high-affinity antibodies and memory plasma cells. Recent studies have found a subpopulation of regulatory T cells called follicular regulatory T (TFR) cells. TFR cells can inhibit TFH cells and/or B cells in a variety of ways to regulate GC reactions. Dysfunction of TFR cells may lead to immune disorders and a variety of autoimmune diseases. We summarize the differentiation and function of TFR cells and provide an overview of TFR cells in autoimmune diseases. Edited by: Philippe Saas, INSERM UMR1098 Interactions Hôte-Greffon-Tumeur & Ingénierie Cellulaire et Génique, France. Specialty section: This article was submitted to Inflammation, a section of the journal Frontiers in Immunology. Received: 22 September 2017 Accepted: 29 November 2017 Published: 11 December 2017
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