Role of CXCR5 and CCR7 in follicular Th cell positioning and appearance of a programmed cell death gene-1high germinal center-associated subpopulation

NM Haynes, CDC Allen, R Lesley… - The Journal of …, 2007 - journals.aai.org
NM Haynes, CDC Allen, R Lesley, KM Ansel, N Killeen, JG Cyster
The Journal of Immunology, 2007journals.aai.org
Th cell access to primary B cell follicles is dependent on CXCR5. However, whether CXCR5
induction on T cells is sufficient in determining their follicular positioning has been unclear.
In this study, we find that transgenic CXCR5 overexpression is not sufficient to promote
follicular entry of naive T cells unless the counterbalancing influence of CCR7 ligands is
removed. In contrast, the positioning of Ag-engaged T cells at the B/T boundary could occur
in the absence of CXCR5. The germinal center (GC) response was 2-fold reduced when T …
Abstract
Th cell access to primary B cell follicles is dependent on CXCR5. However, whether CXCR5 induction on T cells is sufficient in determining their follicular positioning has been unclear. In this study, we find that transgenic CXCR5 overexpression is not sufficient to promote follicular entry of naive T cells unless the counterbalancing influence of CCR7 ligands is removed. In contrast, the positioning of Ag-engaged T cells at the B/T boundary could occur in the absence of CXCR5. The germinal center (GC) response was 2-fold reduced when T cells lacked CXCR5, although these T cells were able to access the GC. Finally, CXCR5 high CCR7 low T cells were found to have elevated IL-4 transcript and programmed cell death gene-1 (PD-1) expression, and PD-1 high cells were reduced in the absence of T cell CXCR5 or in mice compromised in GC formation. Overall, these findings provide further understanding of how the changes in CXCR5 and CCR7 expression regulate Th cell positioning during Ab responses, and they suggest that development and/or maintenance of a PD-1 high follicular Th cell subset is dependent on appropriate interaction with GC B cells.
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