Foxp3⁺ T(reg) cells in humoral immunity
James B Wing1, Shimon Sakaguchi
1Department of Experimental Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan.
Abstract:
T(reg) cells are essential for the maintenance of immune homeostasis and prevention of autoimmunity. In humoral immune responses, loss of T(reg) cell function causes increased levels of serum autoantibodies, hyper-IgE, spontaneous generation of germinal centres, and enhanced numbers of specialised T follicular helper cells (T(fh) cells) controlled by the lineage-defining transcription factor BCL-6 (B-cell lymphoma 6). Recent studies have demonstrated that a subset of T(reg) cells [T follicular regulatory (T(freg)) cells] are able to co-opt the follicular T-cell program by gaining expression of BCL-6 and travelling to the follicle where they have an important role in the control of expansion of T(fh) cells and the germinal centre reaction. However, the mechanisms by which they exert this control are still under investigation. In this review, we discuss the effects of T(reg) cells on humoral immunity and the mechanisms by which they exert their regulatory function.
Related Concept Videos
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Humoral Immune Responses
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
Cell-mediated Immune Responses
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response


