Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2025

Author Spotlight: Elucidating the Pathways of TFH Cell Differentiation in Acute LCMV Challenges
Published on: April 26, 2024
Follicular lymphoma regulatory T-cell origin and function.
Stéphane Rodriguez1, Mehdi Alizadeh2, Claire Lamaison1
1Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR)1236, Université Rennes, INSERM, Etablissement Français du Sang Bretagne, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Rennes, France.
This study reveals that follicular regulatory T cells (Tfr) in Follicular Lymphoma (FL) exhibit a regulatory program and can inhibit malignant Tfh and CD8+ T cells. These Tfr cells originate from precursors shared with FL Tfh cells, offering new insights into FL pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Follicular Lymphoma (FL) arises from malignant germinal center (GC) B cells, with interactions between FL B cells and follicular helper T cells (Tfh) being crucial.
- The role of follicular regulatory T cells (Tfr), the regulatory counterpart to Tfh cells, in the FL microenvironment is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively characterize the phenotype, origin, and function of Tfr cells within the FL microenvironment.
- To investigate the regulatory capacity of FL-Tfr cells towards other immune cells in the FL niche.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry and gene expression profiling to define FL-Tfr phenotype.
- Transcriptomic analysis to determine FL-Tfr cell origin.
- In vitro co-culture assays to assess the functional impact of FL-Tfr cells on FL-Tfh and FL-CD8+ T cells.
Main Results:
- FL-Tfr cells (CD4+CXCR5+CD25hiICOS+) possess a regulatory program similar to classical regulatory T cells (Treg) at transcriptomic and methylome levels.
- Evidence of Tfr imprinting was observed on FL-Tfh and FL-B cells.
- FL-Tfr cells inhibited the proliferation of autologous FL-Tfh and FL-CD8+ T cells in vitro, and TCR sequencing indicated shared precursors with FL-Tfh.
Conclusions:
- This study elucidates the distinct role and origin of a Tfr cell subset within the FL tumor microenvironment.
- Findings contribute to a deeper understanding of FL lymphomagenesis and may inform future therapeutic strategies.
More Related Videos
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
07:17Phenotypic and Functional Analysis of Activated Regulatory T Cells Isolated from Chronic Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus-infected Mice
Published on: June 22, 2016
Related Concept Videos
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response
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...