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FOLLICULAR HELPER T CELLS
Follicular helper T cells (TFH) are able to closely interact with B cells to promote the formation of germinal centers (GCs). The stable cognate interaction between TFH and B cells in the GC is mutually beneficial to both cells for their development and function. Specifically, help B cells produce long-lived memory B cells and high-affinity antibodies and, in reciprocation, TFH cells are helped by B cells for further differentiation through cell cognation. This results in effective antibody responses to provide protection against pathogenic microbes. The September issue provides three reviews on the biology of TFH cells, highlighting their involvement in disease. The accompanying web focus presents links to related articles from across Springer Nature to provide more background information about these cells.
Focus library
The development and fate of follicular helper T cells defined by an IL-21 reporter mouse
Katja Lüthje, Axel Kallies, Yoko Shimohakamada, Gabrielle T Belz, Amanda Light, David M Tarlinton & Stephen L Nutt
Nature Immunology 13, 491–498 doi:10.1038/ni.2261
Orchestrating the orchestrators: chemokines in control of T cell traffic
Shannon K Bromley, Thorsten R Mempel & Andrew D Luster
Nature Immunology 9, 970–980 doi:10.1038/ni.f.213
Regulation of TH2 development by CXCR5+ dendritic cells and lymphotoxin-expressing B cells
Beatriz León, André Ballesteros-Tato, Jeffrey L Browning, Robert Dunn, Troy D Randall & Frances E Lund
Nature Immunology 13, 681–690 doi:10.1038/ni.2309
IL-27 induction of IL-21 from human CD8+ T cells induces granzyme B in an autocrine manner
Akanksha Mittal, Gopal Murugaiyan, Vanessa Beynon, Dan Hu & Howard L Weiner
Immunology and Cell Biology doi:10.1038/icb.2012.14
Follicular lymphoma cell niche: identification of a preeminent IL-4-dependent TFH-B cell axis
C Pangault, P Amé-Thomas, P Ruminy, D Rossille, G Caron, M Baia, J De Vos, M Roussel, C Monvoisin, T Lamy, H Tilly, P Gaulard, K Tarte and T Fest
Leukemia 24 2080–2089 doi:10.1038/leu.2010.223
The development and function of follicular helper T cells in immune responses
Maogen Chen, Zhiyong Guo, Weiqiang Ju, Bernhard Ryffel, Xiaoshun He and Song Guo Zheng
Cellular & Molecular Immunology 9 doi:10.1038/cmi.2012.18
The darker side of follicular helper T cells: from autoimmunity to immunodeficiency
Sudhanshu Shekhar and Xi Yang
Cellular & Molecular Immunology 9 doi:10.1038/cmi.2012.26
The role of the T follicular helper cells in allergic disease
DM Kemeny
Cellular & Molecular Immunology 9 doi:10.1038/cmi.2012.31
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