Dopamine in germinal centers

Follicular helper T cell (T_FH cell)–B cell interactions in germinal centers lead to the generation of long-lived plasma cells that produce high-affinity antibodies. In Nature, Papa et al. show that human T_FH cells express enzymes necessary for production of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is released after cognate interactions with follicular B cells that express the dopamine receptor DRD1. This bidirectional interaction leads to upregulation of surface expression of the ligands ICOS-L on B cells and CD40L on T_FH cells, which enhances the formation of T cell–B cell synapses. Curiously, mouse follicular lymphocytes do not display similar dopamine-dependent signaling interactions. Simulation experiments suggest that dopamine signaling might speed germinal-center interactions and enhance plasma-cell generation. Testing of this hypothesis, however, awaits the development of in vivo models.

Nature 547, 318–323 (2017)