1. The multifaceted functions of follicular regulatory T cells.
- Author
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Sage, Peter T and Sharpe, Arlene H
- Subjects
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SUPPRESSOR cells , *GERMINAL centers , *ANTIBODY formation , *B cells , *HUMORAL immunity - Abstract
• Tfr cells regulate humoral immunity, thereby controlling antibody responses. • Roles of Tfr cells have been unclear due to lack of specific tools to study them. • We propose a paradigm for how Tfr cells control foreign and autoantibody responses. The immune system is capable of generating robust antibody responses to foreign antigens during infection and vaccination, while simultaneously limiting antibodies to self-antigens. T follicular regulatory (Tfr) cells are a subset of follicular T cell with specialized roles in regulating humoral immunity. Although Tfr cells have been studied for the past 10 years, their roles have remained elusive. In this review we discuss the current understanding of Tfr cell functions in autoimmunity and how Tfr cells simultaneously control foreign and autoantigen specific antibody responses. We highlight new tools that enable in-depth study of Tfr cells in vivo and recent data suggesting an important role for Tfr cells in limiting participation of autoreactive B cells in germinal centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
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