Bcl6 mediates the development of T follicular helper cells.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 19628815.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/science.1176676 and PMC identifier 2857334.
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Abstract
A fundamental function of CD4+ helper T (T(H)) cells is the regulation of B cell-mediated humoral immunity. Development of T follicular helper (T(FH)) cells that provide help to B cells is mediated by the cytokines interleukin-6 and interleukin-21 but is independent of TH1, TH2, and TH17 effector cell lineages. Here, we characterize the function of Bcl6, a transcription factor selectively expressed in T(FH) cells. Bcl6 expression is regulated by interleukin-6 and interleukin-21. Bcl6 overexpression induced T(FH)-related gene expression and inhibited other T(H) lineage cell differentiation in a DNA binding-dependent manner. Moreover, Bcl6 deficiency in T cells resulted in impaired T(FH) cell development and germinal center reactions, and altered production of other effector T cell subsets. Our data thus illustrate that Bcl6 is required for programming of T(FH) cell generation.
Medical subject headings
- DNA-Binding Proteins
- Germinal Center
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets
- T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer
- Transcription Factors