Recent progress in studies on T follicular helper cells
Abstract：T ceils helping antibody production is a fundamental aspect of humoral immune response. Until now, a better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms for T cell help function emerges. It has been confirmed that a novel subset of CD4+T cells, termed T follicular help cells ( Tfh ), provides a pivotal helper function to B cells. Tfh, cells are distinguishable from other CD4+T cells by several criteria, such as chemokine receptor (CXCR5) expression, location/migration (B cell follicles), and function (B cell help). Interleukin 21 ( IL-21 ) produced by Tfh plays a central role in stimulation of B cell differentiation and antibody production. Consequently, dysregulation of Tfh cell function due to over- or under- expression of Tfh ceils-associated molecules, such as ICOS or IL-21, mostly contributes to the pathogenesis of certain autoimmune diseases or immunodeficiencies.
Keywords：Tfh cellsIL-21ICOShumoral immune responseautoimmune diseases
Publication Date：2009-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：4( 473-476 )