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Updated: Jan 25, 2026

Author Spotlight: Elucidating the Pathways of TFH Cell Differentiation in Acute LCMV Challenges
Published on: April 26, 2024
Aire deficient dendritic cells promote the T follicular helper cells differentiation
Feifei Huo1, Xiaodong Shi2, Xueyang Zou3
1Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China; Department of Intensive Care Unit, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
Abstract:
Autoimmune regulator (Aire), primarily expressed in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), maintains central immune tolerance through the clearance of self-reactive T cells. Aire can also be expressed in dendritic cells (DCs), and DCs can mediate T follicular helper (TFH) cell differentiation and self-reactive B cell activation through inducible costimulator molecule ligand (ICOSL) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), which can cause autoimmune diseases. To confirm whether Aire in DCs affects TFH cell differentiation and to determine the role of Aire in the maintenance of peripheral immune tolerance, this study observed the effects of Aire deficiency on TFH cells using Aire knockout mice. The results showed that Aire deficiency caused increased number of TFH cells, both in vivo and in vitro. Further studies showed that Aire deficiency promoted TFH differentiation through the upregulation of ICOSL and IL-6 in DCs. Thus Aire could suppress the expression of ICOSL and IL-6 to inhibit TFH cell differentiation.
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