在體液免疫應(yīng)答過程中,，效應(yīng)B細(xì)胞介導(dǎo)的免疫應(yīng)答常常需要表達(dá)CD4+的T細(xì)胞的輔助,。通常,，人們認(rèn)為CD4+T細(xì)胞的亞類中,，T細(xì)胞濾泡（T  follicular）輔助細(xì)胞（簡稱：TFH）是為效應(yīng)B細(xì)胞提供輔助的主要細(xì)胞,。

然而,，關(guān)于TFH細(xì)胞的分化機(jī)制卻一直未明。Shane Crotty研究小組發(fā)現(xiàn),，小鼠動物試驗(yàn)結(jié)果表明,，轉(zhuǎn)錄因子Bcl6是維系TFH細(xì)胞分化的關(guān)鍵因素。而Blimp-1是與Bcl6作用相反的轉(zhuǎn)錄因子,，它抑制B細(xì)胞發(fā)生效應(yīng)分泌抗體蛋白,。

這些研究結(jié)果表明，TFH細(xì)胞是維持抗體分泌的重要細(xì)胞,，而Bcl6以及Blimp-1兩種轉(zhuǎn)錄因子是調(diào)控抗體分泌的關(guān)鍵轉(zhuǎn)錄因子,。這些成果有利于設(shè)計(jì)更好的疫苗。（生物谷Bioon.com）

生物谷推薦原始出處：

Science July 16, 2009 DOI: 10.1126/science.1175870

Bcl6 and Blimp-1 Are Reciprocal and Antagonistic Regulators of T Follicular Helper Cell Differentiation

Robert J. Johnston 1, Amanda C. Poholek 2, Daniel DiToro 3, Isharat Yusuf 3, Danelle Eto 3, Burton Barnett 3, Alexander L. Dent 4, Joe Craft 5, Shane Crotty 1*

1 Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LIAI), 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.; Department of Medicine, UCSD School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
2 Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
3 Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LIAI), 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
4 Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Walther Oncology Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
5 Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.; Section of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.

Effective B cell–mediated immunity and antibody responses often require help from CD4+ T cells. It is thought that a distinct CD4+ effector T cell subset, called T follicular helper cells (TFH), provides this help; however, the molecular requirements for TFH differentiation are unknown. Here, we show that expression of the transcription factor Bcl6 in CD4+ T cells is both necessary and sufficient for in vivo TFH differentiation and T cell help to B cells in mice. In contrast, the transcription factor Blimp-1, an antagonist of Bcl6, inhibits TFH differentiation and help, thereby preventing B cell germinal center and antibody responses. These findings demonstrate that TFH are required for proper B cell responses in vivo and that Bcl6 and Blimp-1 play central yet opposing roles in TFH differentiation.