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T‐cell subsets in the germinal center
Author(s) -
Ramiscal Roybel R.,
Vinuesa Carola G.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
immunological reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.839
H-Index - 223
eISSN - 1600-065X
pISSN - 0105-2896
DOI - 10.1111/imr.12031
Subject(s) - germinal center , biology , b cell , priming (agriculture) , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , cd40 , cytotoxic t cell , antibody , genetics , in vitro , botany , germination
Summary T cells are known to migrate to B‐cell‐enriched follicles and germinal centers within secondary lymphoid organs to provide help to B cells. Cognate T:B interactions that take place at the T:B border and subsequently within germinal centers are essential for B‐cell priming, differentiation into germinal center B cells, and selection of mutated cells into memory B cells or memory plasma cells. In recent years, different stages of maturation within B‐cell helper T cells, collectively known as B‐follicular helper T (Tfh) cells, as well as heterogeneity amid germinal center T cells are becoming clear. Indeed, germinal centers support not only bona fide Tfh cells but also CD 4 + and CD 8 + follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells that act to suppress germinal center responses and B ‐cell helper natural killer T cells. There is a growing need for more precise phenotypic and functional distinction of these specialized T‐cell subsets. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the ontogeny, molecular identity, and functional relevance of the various subsets of germinal center T cells.