Follicular Helper T Cells

A special issue of Antibodies (ISSN 2073-4468).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2016) | Viewed by 18944

Special Issue Editor

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
Interests: control of CD4 T cell differentiation; control of the antibody response and autoimmunity by Tfh cells; regulation CD4 T cell memory; HIV vaccine development

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The discovery of the follicular helper T (Tfh) cell lineage and its role in the germinal center reaction has sparked a renaissance in research into control of the antibody response. Some of the major questions in this field are how Tfh cells regulated, how the Bcl6 transcription factor controls Tfh cell generation, and how Tfh cells control germinal center B cell dynamics, antibody selection and B cell memory. Another key question is how Tfh cells contribute to antigen-specific CD4 T cell memory. Additionally, the germinal center reaction is controlled by regulatory T cells, and a subset of follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells has been identified that can modulate the germinal center response and affect antibody maturation. How Tfr cells regulate the germinal center reaction is poorly understood. A major goal of research into Tfh and Tfr cells is to identify pathways that can be used to modulate these cells therapeutically and in vaccine settings.

Dr. Alexander Dent
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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Keywords

  • follicular helper T cells
  • follicular regulatory T cells
  • germinal center B cells
  • somatic hypermutation
  • antibody affinity maturation
  • CD4 T cell differentiation
  • T cell memory
  • Bcl6

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

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Review
Cytokines in the Germinal Center Niche
by Christoph Jandl and Cecile King
Antibodies 2016, 5(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/antib5010005 - 05 Feb 2016
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 7880 | Correction
Abstract
Cytokines are small, secreted, glycoproteins that specifically affect the interactions and communications between cells. Cytokines are produced transiently and locally, acting in a paracrine or autocrine manner, and they are extremely potent, ligating high affinity cell surface receptors to elicit changes in gene [...] Read more.
Cytokines are small, secreted, glycoproteins that specifically affect the interactions and communications between cells. Cytokines are produced transiently and locally, acting in a paracrine or autocrine manner, and they are extremely potent, ligating high affinity cell surface receptors to elicit changes in gene expression and protein synthesis in the responding cell. Cytokines produced during the differentiation of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells and B cells within the germinal center (GC) niche play an important role in ensuring that the humoral immune response is robust, whilst retaining flexibility, during the generation of affinity matured antibodies. Cytokines produced by B cells, antigen presenting cells and stromal cells are important for the differentiation of Tfh cells and Tfh cell produced cytokines act both in an autocrine fashion to firm Tfh cell differentiation and in a paracrine fashion to support the differentiation of memory B cells and plasma cells. In this review, we discuss the role of cytokines during the GC reaction with a particular focus on the influence of cytokines on Tfh cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Follicular Helper T Cells)
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Review
B Cell Help by CD1d-Rectricted NKT Cells
by Livia Clerici, Giulia Casorati and Paolo Dellabona
Antibodies 2015, 4(4), 279-294; https://doi.org/10.3390/antib4040279 - 09 Oct 2015
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 10670
Abstract
B cell activation and antibody production against foreign antigens is a central step of host defense. This is achieved via highly regulated multi-phase processes that involve a variety of cells of both innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. MHC class II-restricted [...] Read more.
B cell activation and antibody production against foreign antigens is a central step of host defense. This is achieved via highly regulated multi-phase processes that involve a variety of cells of both innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. MHC class II-restricted CD4+ T cells specific for peptide antigens, which acquire professional follicular B cell helper functions, have been long recognized as key players in this process. Recent data, however, challenge this paradigm by showing the existence of other helper cell types. CD1d restricted NKT cells specific for lipid antigens are one such new player and can coopt bona fide follicular helper phenotypes. Their role in helping antigen-specific B cell response to protein antigens, as well as to the so called “help-less” antigens that cannot be recognized by T follicular helper cells, is being increasingly elucidated, highlighting their potential pathophysiological impact on the immune response, as well as on the design of improved vaccine formulations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Follicular Helper T Cells)
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