z-logo
Premium
Generation of T follicular helper cells in vitro : requirement for B ‐cell receptor cross‐linking and cognate B‐ and T‐cell interaction
Author(s) -
Kolenbrander Anne,
Grewe Bastian,
Nemazee David,
Überla Klaus,
Temchura Vladimir
Publication year - 2018
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.12834
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , b cell , b cell receptor , naive b cell , t cell , epitope , antigen presenting cell , cytotoxic t cell , in vitro , antibody , immunology , immune system , genetics
Summary The minimum requirements for in vitro modelling of natural CD 4 + T‐cell differentiation into T follicular helper ( Tfh ) cells are still under investigation. We co‐cultured wild‐type and T‐cell receptor ( TCR ) transgenic CD 4 + T cells from naive mice with dendritic cells and B‐cell receptor ( BCR ) transgenic B cells in the presence of HIV ‐derived virus‐like particles containing matched B‐cell and T‐cell epitopes. This co‐culturing induced co‐expression of Tfh ‐master regulator transcription factor BCL ‐6 and CXCR 5 in up to 10% of the wild‐type and up to 40% of the TCR ‐transgenic CD 4 + T cells. Phenotypic markers, production of interleukin‐21 and isotype switching of the B cells to IgG1 further indicated a helper function of the induced Tfh cells in vitro . Dendritic cells supported the generation of functional Tfh cells, but were unable to induce them without cognate B cells. Hence, our study presents a robust experimental system for efficient generation of functionally active Tfh cells in vitro and confirms the importance of cognate B‐ and T‐cell cross‐talk for the Tfh differentiation process.

This content is not available in your region!

Continue researching here.

Having issues? You can contact us here