T follicular helper cells and T follicular regulatory cells in autoimmune diseases

Jingjing Qi; Chang Liu; Ziran Bai; Xia Li; Genhong Yao

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1178792

T follicular helper cells and T follicular regulatory cells in autoimmune diseases

Front Immunol. 2023 Apr 28:14:1178792. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1178792. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Jingjing Qi¹, Chang Liu², Ziran Bai¹, Xia Li¹, Genhong Yao³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
² Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
³ Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.

Abstract

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are heterogeneous and mainly characterized by expressing surface markers CXCR5, ICOS, and PD-1; cytokine IL-21; and transcription factor Bcl6. They are crucial for B-cell differentiation into long-lived plasma cells and high-affinity antibody production. T follicular regulatory (Tfr) cells were described to express markers of conventional T regulatory (Treg) cells and Tfh cells and were able to suppress Tfh-cell and B-cell responses. Evidence has revealed that the dysregulation of Tfh and Tfr cells is positively associated with the pathogenic processes of autoimmune diseases. Herein, we briefly introduce the phenotype, differentiation, and function of Tfh and Tfr cells, and review their potential roles in autoimmune diseases. In addition, we discuss perspectives to develop novel therapies targeting Tfh/Tfr balance.

Keywords: Sjögren’s syndrome; T follicular helper cells (TFH cells); T follicular regulatory cells (TFR); autoimmune diseases; multiple sclerosis; rheumatoid arthritis; systemic lupus erythematosus; type 1 diabetes.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Autoimmune Diseases*
Cytokines
Humans
T Follicular Helper Cells
T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory*

Substances

Cytokines

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (grant no. 81970062 to GY, grant no. 82201990 to JQ), the Science and Technology Talent Innovation Support Project of Dalian (grant no. 2022RQ070 to JQ), and the Dalian Key Laboratory of Human Micro-organism Homeostasis and Immunological Mechanism Research of Diseases.