T‐bet+ memory B cells: Generation, function, and fate

JJ Knox, A Myles, MP Cancro - Immunological reviews, 2019 - Wiley Online Library
JJ Knox, A Myles, MP Cancro
Immunological reviews, 2019Wiley Online Library
B cells expressing the transcription factor T‐bet have emerged as participants in a number of
protective and pathogenic immune responses. T‐bet+ B cells characteristically differentiate
in response to combined Toll‐like receptor and cytokine signaling, contribute to protective
immunity against intracellular pathogens via IgG2a/c production and antibody‐independent
mechanisms, and are prone to produce autoantibodies. Despite recent advances, a number
of questions remain regarding the basic biology of T‐bet+ B cells and their functional niche …
Summary
B cells expressing the transcription factor T‐bet have emerged as participants in a number of protective and pathogenic immune responses. T‐bet+ B cells characteristically differentiate in response to combined Toll‐like receptor and cytokine signaling, contribute to protective immunity against intracellular pathogens via IgG2a/c production and antibody‐independent mechanisms, and are prone to produce autoantibodies. Despite recent advances, a number of questions remain regarding the basic biology of T‐bet+ B cells and their functional niche within the immune system. Herein, we review the discovery and defining characteristics of the T‐bet+ B cell subset in both mice and humans. We further discuss their origins, the basis for their persistence, and their potential fate in vivo. Evidence indicates that T‐bet+ B cells represent a distinct, germinal center‐derived memory population that may serve as an important therapeutic target for the improvement of humoral immunity and prevention of autoimmunity.
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