The metabolic hormone leptin promotes the function of T<sub>FH</sub> cells and supports vaccine responses.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 34031386.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-021-23220-x and PMC identifier 8144586.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Follicular helper T (T<sub>FH</sub>) cells control antibody responses by supporting antibody affinity maturation and memory formation. Inadequate T<sub>FH</sub> function has been found in individuals with ineffective responses to vaccines, but the mechanism underlying T<sub>FH</sub> regulation in vaccination is not understood. Here, we report that lower serum levels of the metabolic hormone leptin associate with reduced vaccine responses to influenza or hepatitis B virus vaccines in healthy populations. Leptin promotes mouse and human T<sub>FH</sub> differentiation and IL-21 production via STAT3 and mTOR pathways. Leptin receptor deficiency impairs T<sub>FH</sub> generation and antibody responses in immunisation and infection. Similarly, leptin deficiency induced by fasting reduces influenza vaccination-mediated protection for the subsequent infection challenge, which is mostly rescued by leptin replacement. Our results identify leptin as a regulator of T<sub>FH</sub> cell differentiation and function and indicate low levels of leptin as a risk factor for vaccine failure.
Medical subject headings
- Antibody Formation
- Influenza Vaccines
- Leptin