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T follicular regulatory (TFR) cells limit Ab responses, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we identify Fgl2 as a soluble TFR cell effector molecule through single-cell gene expression profiling. Highly expressed by TFR cells, Fgl2 directly binds to B cells, especially light-zone germinal center B cells, as well as to T follicular helper (TFH) cells, and directly regulates B cells and TFH in a context-dependent and type 2 Ab isotype-specific manner. In TFH cells, Fgl2 induces the expression of Prdm1 and a panel of checkpoint molecules, including PD1, TIM3, LAG3, and TIGIT, resulting in TFH cell dysfunction. Mice deficient in Fgl2 had dysregulated Ab responses at steady-state and upon immunization. In addition, loss of Fgl2 results in expansion of autoreactive B cells upon immunization. Consistent with this observation, aged Fgl2 -/- mice spontaneously developed autoimmunity associated with elevated autoantibodies. Thus, Fgl2 is a TFR cell effector molecule that regulates humoral immunity and limits systemic autoimmunity., (Copyright © 2020 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.)

T follicular helper (Tfh) cell migration into germinal centers (GCs) is essential for the generation of GC B cells and antibody responses to T cell-dependent (TD) antigens. This process requires interactions between lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) on Tfh cells and ICAMs on B cells. The mechanisms underlying defective antibody responses to TD antigens in DOCK8 deficiency are incompletely understood. We show that mice selectively lacking DOCK8 in T cells had impaired IgG antibody responses to TD antigens, decreased GC size, and reduced numbers of GC B cells. However, they developed normal numbers of Tfh cells with intact capacity for driving B cell differentiation into a GC phenotype in vitro. Notably, migration of DOCK8-deficient T cells into GCs was defective. Following T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 ligation, DOCK8-deficient T cells had impaired LFA-1 activation and reduced binding to ICAM-1. Our results therefore indicate that DOCK8 is important for LFA-1-dependent positioning of Tfh cells in GCs, and thereby the generation of GC B cells and IgG antibody responses to TD antigen.

Follicular regulatory T (T FR ) cells have specialized roles in modulating follicular helper T (T FH ) cell activation of B cells. However, the precise role of T FR cells in controlling antibody responses to foreign antigens and autoantigens in vivo is still unclear due to a lack of specific tools. A T FR cell-deleter mouse was developed that selectively deletes T FR cells, facilitating temporal studies. T FR cells were found to regulate early, but not late, germinal center (GC) responses to control antigen-specific antibody and B cell memory. Deletion of T FR cells also resulted in increased self-reactive immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgE. The increased IgE levels led us to interrogate the role of T FR cells in house dust mite models. T FR cells were found to control T FH 13 cell-induced IgE. In vivo, loss of T FR cells increased house-dust-mite-specific IgE and lung inflammation. Thus, T FR cells control IgG and IgE responses to vaccines, allergens and autoantigens, and exert critical immunoregulatory functions before GC formation.

Patient outcomes for steroid-dependent or -refractory chronic graft-versus-host diesease (cGVHD) are poor, and only ibrutinib has been US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for this indication. cGVHD is often driven by the germinal center (GC) reaction, in which T follicular helper cells interact with GC B cells to produce antibodies that are associated with disease pathogenesis. The transcriptional corepressor B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is a member of the Broad-complex, Tramtrack, and Bric-abrac/poxvirus and zinc finger (BTB/POZ) transcription factor family and master regulator of the immune cells in the GC reaction. We demonstrate that BCL6 expression in both donor T cells and B cells is necessary for cGVHD development, pointing to BCL6 as a therapeutic cGVHD target. A small-molecule BCL6 inhibitor reversed active cGVHD in a mouse model of multiorgan system injury with bronchiolitis obliterans associated with a robust GC reaction, but not in cGVHD mice with scleroderma as the prominent manifestation. For cGVHD patients with antibody-driven cGVHD, targeting of BCL6 represents a new approach with specificity for a master GC regulator that would extend the currently available second-line agents., (© 2019 by The American Society of Hematology.)

Follicular regulatory T (T FR ) cells are a newly defined regulatory T cell (Treg) subset that suppresses follicular helper T cell-mediated B cell responses in the germinal center reaction. The precise costimulatory signal requirements for proper T FR cell differentiation and function are still not known. Using conditional knockout strategies of CD28, we previously demonstrated that loss of CD28 signaling in Tregs caused autoimmunity in mice (termed CD28-ΔTreg mice), characterized by lymphadenopathy, accumulation of activated T cells, and cell-mediated inflammation of the skin and lung. In this study, we show that CD28 signaling is required for T FR cell differentiation. Treg-specific deletion of CD28 caused a reduction in T FR cell numbers and function, which resulted in increased germinal center B cells and Ab production. Moreover, residual CD28-deficient T FR cells showed a diminished suppressive capacity as assessed by their ability to inhibit Ab responses in vitro. Surprisingly, genetic deletion of B cells in CD28-ΔTreg mice prevented the development of lymphadenopathy and CD4 + T cell activation, and autoimmunity that mainly targeted skin and lung tissues. Thus, autoimmunity occurring in mice with CD28-deficient Tregs appears to be driven primarily by loss of T FR cell differentiation and function with resulting B cell-driven inflammation., (Copyright © 2017 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.)

Pathogen exposure elicits production of high-affinity antibodies stimulated by T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in the germinal center reaction. Tfh cells provide both costimulation and stimulatory cytokines to B cells to facilitate affinity maturation, class switch recombination, and plasma cell differentiation within the germinal center. Under normal circumstances, the germinal center reaction results in antibodies that precisely target foreign pathogens while limiting autoimmunity and excessive inflammation. In order to have this degree of control, the immune system ensures Tfh-mediated B-cell help is regulated locally in the germinal center. The recently identified T follicular regulatory (Tfr) cell subset can migrate to the germinal center and inhibit Tfh-mediated B-cell activation and antibody production. Although many aspects of Tfr cell biology are still unclear, recent data have begun to delineate the specialized roles of Tfr cells in controlling the germinal center reaction. Here we discuss the current understanding of Tfr-cell differentiation and function and how this knowledge is providing new insights into the dynamic regulation of germinal centers, and suggesting more efficacious vaccine strategies and ways to treat antibody-mediated diseases., (© 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

High affinity antibodies result from interactions between B cells and T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in germinal centers (GCs). Recent studies have identified an effector subset of T regulatory cells termed T follicular regulatory (Tfr) cells that specifically controls GC responses by suppressing Tfh and B cells. The discovery of Tfr cells has shed new light on pathways regulating humoral immunity that enable potent and specific responses to pathogens while restricting autoimmunity. Here, we review the current understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the differentiation and function of Tfr cells. In this context we discuss recent insights into the role of Tfh cells in disease, how this knowledge may be translated therapeutically, and important areas of further research., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

T follicular helper (T(FH)) cells stimulate, whereas T follicular regulatory (T(FR)) cells inhibit, B cell responses. Despite the potent immunoregulatory roles for TFR cells in controlling the magnitude of antibody production, the precise mechanisms by which T(FR) cells exert their suppressive effects are not yet clear. The lack of specific assays to assess T(FR) cell function separately from differentiation has hindered progress in elucidating T(FR) cell function. This is due, in part, to difficulty in separating T(FR) cells from phenotypically similar, but functionally different, T(FH) cells. Here we describe an in vitro approach for sensitively and quantitatively assessing the capacity of T(FR) cells to suppress T(FH)-mediated B cell antibody production utilizing both ELISA and flow cytometry to measure B cell responses. Beyond assessing T(FR) function, this assay system can also be used to sensitively measure T(FH) stimulatory capacity as well as B cell function.

The receptor CTLA-4 has been implicated in controlling B cell responses, but the mechanisms by which CTLA-4 regulates antibody production are not known. Here we showed deletion of CTLA-4 in adult mice increased Tfh and Tfr cell numbers and augmented B cell responses. In the effector phase, loss of CTLA-4 on Tfh cells resulted in heightened B cell responses, whereas loss of CTLA-4 on Tfr cells resulted in defective suppression of antigen-specific antibody responses. We also found that non-Tfr Treg cells could suppress B cell responses through CTLA-4 and that Treg and/or Tfr cells might downregulate B7-2 on B cells outside germinal centers as a means of suppression. Within the germinal center, however, Tfr cells potently suppress B cells through CTLA-4, but with a mechanism independent of altering B7-1 or B7-2. Thus, we identify multifaceted regulatory roles for CTLA-4 in Tfh, Tfr, and Treg cells, which together control humoral immunity., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)