Article

The role of the T follicular helper cells in allergic disease.

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Programme, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Cellular & molecular immunology (impact factor: 2.99). 08/2012; 9(5):386-9. DOI:10.1038/cmi.2012.31 pp.386-9
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT T follicular helper (Tfh) cells were discovered just over a decade ago as germinal centre T cells that help B cells make antibodies. Included in this role is affinity maturation and isotype switching. It is here that their functions become less clear. Tfh cells principally produce IL-21 which inhibits class switching to IgE. Recent studies have questioned whether the germinal centre is the main site of IgE class switching or IgE affinity maturation. In this review, I will examine the evidence that these cells are responsible for regulating IgE class switching and the relationship between Tfh cells and T helper 2 (Th2) effector cells.

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Keywords

clear
 
functions
 
germinal centre
 
germinal centre T cells
 
help B cells
 
IgE class switching
 
inhibits class switching
 
main site
 
regulating IgE class switching
 
T follicular helper
 
T helper 2
 
Tfh
 
Tfh cells