[HTML][HTML] Can follicular helper T cells be targeted to improve vaccine efficacy?

MA Linterman, DL Hill - F1000Research, 2016 - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
F1000Research, 2016ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The success of most vaccines relies on the generation of antibodies to provide protection
against subsequent infection; this in turn depends on a robust germinal centre (GC)
response that culminates in the production of long-lived antibody-secreting plasma cells.
The size and quality of the GC response are directed by a specialised subset of CD4+ T
cells: T follicular helper (Tfh) cells. Tfh cells provide growth and differentiation signals to GC
B cells and mediate positive selection of high-affinity B cell clones in the GC, thereby …
Abstract
The success of most vaccines relies on the generation of antibodies to provide protection against subsequent infection; this in turn depends on a robust germinal centre (GC) response that culminates in the production of long-lived antibody-secreting plasma cells. The size and quality of the GC response are directed by a specialised subset of CD4+ T cells: T follicular helper (Tfh) cells. Tfh cells provide growth and differentiation signals to GC B cells and mediate positive selection of high-affinity B cell clones in the GC, thereby determining which B cells exit the GC as plasma cells and memory B cells. Because of their central role in the production of long-lasting humoral immunity, Tfh cells represent an interesting target for rational vaccine design.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov