Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026

Evaluation of T Follicular Helper Cells and Germinal Center Response During Influenza A Virus Infection in Mice
Published on: June 27, 2020
Bcl6 expression specifies the T follicular helper cell program in vivo
Xindong Liu1, Xiaowei Yan, Bo Zhong
1Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Bcl6 is crucial for T follicular helper (Tfh) cell stability and memory formation. This study developed a reporter mouse to show Bcl6 is a reliable marker for Tfh cell programming in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are essential for adaptive immunity, mediating germinal center reactions.
- The transcription factor B cell lymphoma 6 (Bcl6) is known to be critical for Tfh cell development and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Bcl6 in Tfh cell differentiation and stability in vivo.
- To explore the relationship between Bcl6 expression and other T cell lineages.
- To analyze the plasticity of T cell differentiation during immune responses.
Main Methods:
- Development and analysis of a novel Bcl6 reporter mouse model.
- Integration with other lineage reporter systems.
- Genome-wide transcriptome analysis.
Main Results:
- Substantial plasticity in T cell differentiation during early immune responses was observed.
- CXCR5 expression is initially Bcl6-independent.
- High Bcl6 expression enables Tfh cell persistence and memory cell development in vivo.
Conclusions:
- Bcl6 is a definitive marker for the Tfh cell polarized program.
- Bcl6 plays a critical role in maintaining Tfh cell identity and promoting memory formation.
More Related Videos
05:03Accessing Early Differentiation of Virus-Specific Follicular Helper CD4+ T Cell in Acute LCMV-Infected Mice
Published on: April 26, 2024
07:39Isolation of CD4+ T-cells and Analysis of Circulating T-follicular Helper (cTfh) Cell Subsets from Peripheral Blood Using 6-color Flow Cytometry
Published on: January 7, 2019
Related Concept Videos
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
B Cell Activation and Differentiation
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Special Features of Adaptive Immunity
The primary cell types involved in adaptive immunity are T cells and B cells. Each type has a unique role in defending the body against pathogens. T cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity. They identify and eliminate infected cells directly,...