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Abundance and specificity of influenza reactive circulating memory follicular helper and non‐follicular helper CD 4 T cells in healthy adults
Author(s) -
Leddon Scott A.,
Richards Katherine A.,
Treanor John J.,
Sant Andrea J.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/imm.12491
Subject(s) - biology , cxcr5 , immunology , epitope , antigen , interleukin 21 , antibody , acquired immune system , immune system , b cell , t cell , germinal center
Summary CD 4 T‐cell responses are functionally complex and regulate many aspects of innate and adaptive immunity. Follicular helper (Tfh) cells are CD 4 T cells specialized to support B‐cell production of isotype‐switched, high‐affinity antibody. So far, studies of Tfh cells in humans have focused on their differentiation requirements, with little research devoted to their antigen specificity. Here, after separating circulating human memory CD 4 T cells based on expression of CXCR 5 , a signature marker of Tfh, we have quantified and assayed the influenza protein antigen specificity of blood Tfh cells and CD 4 T cells lacking this marker. Through the use of peptide pools derived from nucleoprotein ( NP ) or haemagglutinin ( HA ) and a panel of human donors, we have discovered that circulating Tfh cells preferentially recognize peptide epitopes from HA while cells lacking CXCR 5 are enriched for specificity toward NP . These studies suggest that reactive CD 4 T cells specific for distinct viral antigens may have generalized differences in their functional potential due to their previous stimulation history.