Bcl6 expression specifies the T follicular helper cell program in vivo

Xindong Liu, Xiaowei Yan, Bo Zhong, Roza I. Nurieva, Aibo Wang, Xiaohu Wang, Natalia Martin-Orozco, Yihong Wang, Seon Hee Chang, Enric Esplugues, Richard A. Flavell, Qiang Tian, Chen Dong

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

203 Scopus citations

Abstract

T follicular helper cells (Tfh cells) play a pivotal role in germinal center reactions, which require B cell lymphoma 6 (Bcl6) transcription factor. To analyze their relationships with other effector T cell lineages and their stability in vivo, we developed and analyzed a new Bcl6 reporter mouse alone or together with other lineage reporter systems. Assisted with genome-wide transcriptome analysis, we show substantial plasticity of T cell differentiation in the early phase of immune response. At this stage, CXCR5 appears to be expressed in a Bcl6-independent manner. Once Bcl6 is highly expressed, Tfh cells can persist in vivo and some of them develop into memory cells. Together, our results indicate Bcl6 as a bona fide marker for Tfh polarized program.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1841-1852
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine
Volume209
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

MD Anderson CCSG core facilities

  • Genetically Engineered Mouse Facility
  • Research Animal Support Facility

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