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Nature 455, 745-747 (9 October 2008) | doi:10.1038/455745a; Published online 8 October 2008

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Immunology: Helpful T cells are sticky

Elissa K. Deenick1 & Stuart G. Tangye1

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Prolonged physical interaction between helper T cells and antibody-producing B cells is crucial for efficient immune responses. Mutations in a protein that underlies this process cause human disease.

The production of antibodies by B cells is essential for protective immunity following vaccination or exposure to infectious pathogens. The development of antibody-secreting B cells occurs in discrete areas of lymphoid tissues called germinal centres1, 2, the formation of which depends on interactions between B cells and T cells bearing the CD4 molecule on their surface (CD4+ T cells).

  1. Elissa K. Deenick and Stuart G. Tangye are at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, 2010 New South Wales, Australia.
    Email: e.deenick@garvan.org.au
    Email: s.tangye@garvan.org.au

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