Evolution of antigen-specific follicular helper T cell transcription from effector function to memory

Sci Immunol. 2022 Oct 14;7(76):eabm2084. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abm2084. Epub 2022 Oct 7.

Abstract

Understanding how follicular helper T cells (TFH) regulate the specialization, maturation, and differentiation of adaptive B cell immunity is crucial for developing durable high-affinity immune protection. Using indexed single-cell molecular strategies, we reveal a skewed intraclonal assortment of higher-affinity T cell receptors and the distinct molecular programming of the localized TFH compartment compared with emigrant conventional effector TH cells. We find a temporal shift in B cell receptor class switch, which permits identification of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory modules of transcriptional programming that subspecialize TFH function before and during the germinal center (GC) reaction. Late collapse of this local primary GC reaction reveals a persistent post-GC TFH population that discloses a putative memory TFH program. These studies define subspecialized antigen-specific TFH transcriptional programs that progressively change with antibody class-specific evolution of high-affinity B cell immunity and a memory TFH transcriptional program that emerges upon local GC resolution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Antigens
  • Germinal Center
  • Immunoglobulin Isotypes
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • T Follicular Helper Cells*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer*

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Immunoglobulin Isotypes
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell