scholarly journals Follicular Helper CD4+T Cells in Human Neuroautoimmune Diseases and Their Animal Models

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xueli Fan ◽  
Chenhong Lin ◽  
Jinming Han ◽  
Xinmei Jiang ◽  
Jie Zhu ◽  
...  

Follicular helper CD4+T (TFH) cells play a fundamental role in humoral immunity deriving from their ability to provide help for germinal center (GC) formation, B cell differentiation into plasma cells and memory cells, and antibody production in secondary lymphoid tissues. TFH cells can be identified by a combination of markers, including the chemokine receptor CXCR5, costimulatory molecules ICOS and PD-1, transcription repressor Bcl-6, and cytokine IL-21. It is difficult and impossible to get access to secondary lymphoid tissues in humans, so studies are usually performed with human peripheral blood samples as circulating counterparts of tissue TFH cells. A balance of TFH cell generation and function is critical for protective antibody response, whereas overactivation of TFH cells or overexpression of TFH-associated molecules may result in autoimmune diseases. Emerging data have shown that TFH cells and TFH-associated molecules may be involved in the pathogenesis of neuroautoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica (NMO)/neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), and myasthenia gravis (MG). This review summarizes the features of TFH cells, including their development, function, and roles as well as TFH-associated molecules in neuroautoimmune diseases and their animal models.

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xueli Fan ◽  
Yanfang Jiang ◽  
Jinming Han ◽  
Jingyao Liu ◽  
Yafen Wei ◽  
...  

Objective. This study aimed to examine the potential role of memory T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in patients with neuromyelitis optica/neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMO/NMOSD).Methods. The percentages of different subsets of circulating memory Tfh cells in 25 NMO/NMOSD patients before and after treatment as well as in 17 healthy controls were examined by flow cytometry. The levels of IL-21 and AQP4 Ab in plasma and CSF were measured by ELISA.Results. The percentages and numbers of circulating memory Tfh cells, ICOS+, CCR7−, CCR7−ICOS+, CCR7+, CCR7+ICOS+memory Tfh cells, and the levels of IL-21 in plasma and CSF were significantly increased in NMO/NMOSD patients. The percentages of CCR7−and CCR7−ICOS+memory Tfh cells were positively correlated with ARR, plasma IL-21, and AQP4 Ab levels. The percentages of CCR7+and CCR7+ICOS+memory Tfh cells were positively correlated with CSF white blood cell counts, proteins, and IL-21 levels. Treatment with corticosteroids significantly reduced the numbers of CCR7−ICOS+and CCR7+ICOS+memory Tfh cells as well as plasma IL-21 levels in patients with partial remission.Conclusions. Our findings indicate that circulating memory Tfh cells may participate in the relapse and development of NMO/NMOSD and may serve as a new therapeutic target.


2011 ◽  
Vol 208 (7) ◽  
pp. 1377-1388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sau K. Lee ◽  
Robert J. Rigby ◽  
Dimitra Zotos ◽  
Louis M. Tsai ◽  
Shimpei Kawamoto ◽  
...  

T follicular helper cells (Tfh cells) localize to follicles where they provide growth and selection signals to mutated germinal center (GC) B cells, thus promoting their differentiation into high affinity long-lived plasma cells and memory B cells. T-dependent B cell differentiation also occurs extrafollicularly, giving rise to unmutated plasma cells that are important for early protection against microbial infections. Bcl-6 expression in T cells has been shown to be essential for the formation of Tfh cells and GC B cells, but little is known about its requirement in physiological extrafollicular antibody responses. We use several mouse models in which extrafollicular plasma cells can be unequivocally distinguished from those of GC origin, combined with antigen-specific T and B cells, to show that the absence of T cell–expressed Bcl-6 significantly reduces T-dependent extrafollicular antibody responses. Bcl-6+ T cells appear at the T–B border soon after T cell priming and before GC formation, and these cells express low amounts of PD-1. Their appearance precedes that of Bcl-6+ PD-1hi T cells, which are found within the GC. IL-21 acts early to promote both follicular and extrafollicular antibody responses. In conclusion, Bcl-6+ T cells are necessary at B cell priming to form extrafollicular antibody responses, and these pre-GC Tfh cells can be distinguished phenotypically from GC Tfh cells.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olusegun O. Onabajo ◽  
Joseph J. Mattapallil

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) are associated with severe perturbations in the gut mucosal environment characterized by massive viral replication and depletion of CD4 T cells leading to dysbiosis, breakdown of the epithelial barrier, microbial translocation, immune activation and disease progression. Multiple mechanisms play a role in maintaining homeostasis in the gut mucosa and protecting the integrity of the epithelial barrier. Among these are the secretory IgA (sIgA) that are produced daily in vast quantities throughout the mucosa and play a pivotal role in preventing commensal microbes from breaching the epithelial barrier. These microbe specific, high affinity IgA are produced by IgA+ plasma cells that are present within the Peyer’s Patches, mesenteric lymph nodes and the isolated lymphoid follicles that are prevalent in the lamina propria of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Differentiation, maturation and class switching to IgA producing plasma cells requires help from T follicular helper (Tfh) cells that are present within these lymphoid tissues. HIV replication and CD4 T cell depletion is accompanied by severe dysregulation of Tfh cell responses that compromises the generation of mucosal IgA that in turn alters barrier integrity leading to commensal bacteria readily breaching the epithelial barrier and causing mucosal pathology. Here we review the effect of HIV infection on Tfh cells and mucosal IgA responses in the GIT and the consequences these have for gut dysbiosis and mucosal immunopathogenesis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyan Yang ◽  
Jing Peng ◽  
Xiaoxi Huang ◽  
Peidong Liu ◽  
Juan Li ◽  
...  

BackgroundNeuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs) are severe inflammatory diseases mediated mainly by humoral and cellular immunity. Circulating follicular helper T (Tfh) cells are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of NMOSD, and serum C-X-C motif ligand 13 (CXCL13) levels reflect the effects of Tfh cells on B-cell-mediated humoral immunity. Immune cell and cytokine changes during the dynamic relapsing and remitting processes in NMOSD require further exploration.Patients and methodsBlood samples were collected from 36 patients in acute and recovery phases of NMOSD, 20 patients with other noninflammatory neurological diseases (ONND) and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. CD4+CXCR5+PD-1+ Tfh cells were detected by flow cytometry, and serum CXCL13 levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsThe percentage of CD4+CXCR5+PD-1+ Tfh cells was significantly higher during the acute phase than during the recovery phase, and serum CXCL13 levels were significantly higher in patients in the acute and recovery phases of NMOSD than in the ONND and control groups. The Tfh cell percentage was positively correlated with CXCL13 levels, and both were positively correlated with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores and cerebrospinal fluid protein levels in patients with acute NMOSD.ConclusionCirculating Tfh cells level has the potential to be a biomarker of disease severity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Wu ◽  
Binbin Yang ◽  
Jiawei Wang

Background: T follicular helper cells (Tfh cells) play an important role in activating B lymphocytes and may associate with idiopathic Optic Neuritis (ON) and Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (NMOSD).Objective: This study aimed to examine the potential role of Tfh cells in pathogenesis of idiopathic ON and NMOSD.Methods: Circulating CD4+CXCR5+ and CD4+CXCR5+PD-1+ cells in 46 idiopathic ON and 68 NMOSD patients as well as 28 healthy controls were examined by flow cytometry before treatment. Serum AQP4 antibody, Expended Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and Visual Outcome Scale (VOS) were detected before and after treatment.Results: The percentages of circulating CD4+CXCR5+ and CD4+CXCR5+PD-1+Tfh cells in CD4+ cells (%) were significantly increased in idiopathic ON and NMOSD compared with those of healthy controls (p < 0.01). No significant difference of Tfh cells in blood and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) was found between ON and NMOSD patients. The percentages of CSF, CD4+, CXCR5+, and CD4+CXCR5+PD-1+ cells in CD4+ cells (%) were positively correlated with those of the blood (r = 0.5781, r = 0.6079, p = 0.0076, and p = 0.0045, respectively). EDSS scores of NMOSD group were higher than those of ON group and the time course of NMOSD patients was longer than that of ON patients (p < 0.01). After methylprednisolone treatment, both EDSS and VOS scores were significantly decreased at discharge compared with before treatment (p < 0.01). There was no significant correlation among Tfh cell percentages in CD4+ cells, CSF leukocytes, CSF protein, annual recurrence rate, EDSS and VOS scores between two groups (p > 0.05).Conclusion: The Circulating T follicular helper cells were increased in both idiopathic ON and NMOSD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Jan Traub ◽  
Leila Husseini ◽  
Martin S. Weber

The first description of neuromyelitis optica by Eugène Devic and Fernand Gault dates back to the 19th century, but only the discovery of aquaporin-4 autoantibodies in a major subset of affected patients in 2004 led to a fundamentally revised disease concept: Neuromyelits optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are now considered autoantibody-mediated autoimmune diseases, bringing the pivotal pathogenetic role of B cells and plasma cells into focus. Not long ago, there was no approved medication for this deleterious disease and off-label therapies were the only treatment options for affected patients. Within the last years, there has been a tremendous development of novel therapies with diverse treatment strategies: immunosuppression, B cell depletion, complement factor antagonism and interleukin-6 receptor blockage were shown to be effective and promising therapeutic interventions. This has led to the long-expected official approval of eculizumab in 2019 and inebilizumab in 2020. In this article, we review current pathogenetic concepts in NMOSD with a focus on the role of B cells and autoantibodies as major contributors to the propagation of these diseases. Lastly, by highlighting promising experimental and future treatment options, we aim to round up the current state of knowledge on the therapeutic arsenal in NMOSD.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle T. Mincham ◽  
Jacob D. Young ◽  
Deborah H. Strickland

Purpose and appropriate sample typesThis 19-parameter, 18-colour flow cytometry panel was designed and optimised to enable the comprehensive and simultaneous immunophenotyping of distinct T-cell and B-cell subsets within murine lymphoid tissues (Table 1). Cellular populations identified by employing this OMIP include 4 major subsets of B-cells (memory, activated, plasma cells and plasmablasts) and 7 major subsets of CD4+ T-cells (naïve, central memory, effector memory, helper, regulatory, follicular helper and follicular regulatory). Staining was performed on freshly isolated splenocytes from 21-day-old neonatal BALB/c mice, however due to the omission of mouse strain-specific markers, this OMIP can be implemented across a range of murine models where in-depth immunophenotyping of the diverse repertoire of T-cell and B-cell populations localised within lymphoid tissues is required.


2010 ◽  
Vol 207 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle A. Linterman ◽  
Laura Beaton ◽  
Di Yu ◽  
Roybel R. Ramiscal ◽  
Monika Srivastava ◽  
...  

During T cell–dependent responses, B cells can either differentiate extrafollicularly into short-lived plasma cells or enter follicles to form germinal centers (GCs). Interactions with T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are required for GC formation and for selection of somatically mutated GC B cells. Interleukin (IL)-21 has been reported to play a role in Tfh cell formation and in B cell growth, survival, and isotype switching. To date, it is unclear whether the effect of IL-21 on GC formation is predominantly a consequence of this cytokine acting directly on the Tfh cells or if IL-21 directly influences GC B cells. We show that IL-21 acts in a B cell–intrinsic fashion to control GC B cell formation. Mixed bone marrow chimeras identified a significant B cell–autonomous effect of IL-21 receptor (R) signaling throughout all stages of the GC response. IL-21 deficiency profoundly impaired affinity maturation and reduced the proportion of IgG1+ GC B cells but did not affect formation of early memory B cells. IL-21R was required on GC B cells for maximal expression of Bcl-6. In contrast to the requirement for IL-21 in the follicular response to sheep red blood cells, a purely extrafollicular antibody response to Salmonella dominated by IgG2a was intact in the absence of IL-21.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 5207-5207
Author(s):  
Asahi Ito ◽  
Takashi Ishida ◽  
Fumihiko Sato ◽  
Fumiko Mori ◽  
Ayako Masaki ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 5207 The aim of the present study was to establish a murine AITL model. We inoculated cells from affected LN of an AITL patient intraperitoneally into NOG mice. Hepatosplenomegaly developed in these animals about 2 months later, and normal splenic architecture was replaced by multi-focal deposit of lymphocytes and numerous blood vessels. Some of the former consisted of AITL cells characterized by small to medium size, and clear to pale cytoplasm. The remaining lymphocytes were non-neoplastic reactive cells including CD8-positive cells, B cells, and plasma cells. Double immunostaining revealed that the neoplastic cells were positive for both UCHL-1 (CD45RO) and BCL-6. In addition, significant levels of human IgG/A/M were detected in these animals. The AITL cells engrafted in the NOG mice indeed functioned as follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and induced antibody production by B-cells, consistent with recent evidence that AITL is a neoplasm originating from Tfh cells. These clinical and histological features in the mice are almost identical to those seen in AITL patients. Cells from spleens of affected animals could be serially transplanted, with enrichment of the AITL cells together with reduction of the reactive cells at each passage. This phenomenon might reflect the progressive nature of AITL. TCRB analysis demonstrated that the AITL clone in the mice was identical to that from the donating patient. This is the first mouse model of AITL, and could be a powerful tool for investigating, and developing novel treatment modalities for this type of lymphoma. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. SCI-5-SCI-5
Author(s):  
Chen Dong

Abstract Abstract SCI-5 CD4+ T cells, upon activation, differentiate into cytokine-producing effector helper T (TH) cells. In addition to TH1 and TH2 lineage cells, additional TH subsets, including TH17 and T follicular helper (Tfh) cells have been identified. TH17 cells produce IL-17, IL-17F, IL-21, and IL-22 and mediate tissue inflammation. TH17 cells play protective or pathogenic roles in cancer, depending on the context. On the other hand, Tfh cells produce IL-21 and regulate germinal center reactions. Tfh cells may play a role in some forms of lymphoma. I will discuss on the regulation and function of these two subsets of T cells in the context of cancer. Disclosures: Dong: Ono: Consultancy; Tempero: Consultancy; Genentech: Honoraria; GSK: Consultancy; AnaptysBio: Consultancy.


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