Interleukin-10 from CD4+ follicular regulatory T cells promotes the germinal center response

BJ Laidlaw, Y Lu, RA Amezquita, JS Weinstein… - Science …, 2017 - science.org
Science immunology, 2017science.org
CD4+ follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells suppress B cell responses through modulation of
follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and germinal center (GC) development. We found that Tfr cells
can also promote the GC response through provision of interleukin-10 (IL-10) after acute
infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). Sensing of IL-10 by B cells was
necessary for optimal development of the GC response. GC B cells formed in the absence of
Treg cell–derived IL-10 displayed an altered dark zone state and decreased expression of …
CD4+ follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells suppress B cell responses through modulation of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and germinal center (GC) development. We found that Tfr cells can also promote the GC response through provision of interleukin-10 (IL-10) after acute infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). Sensing of IL-10 by B cells was necessary for optimal development of the GC response. GC B cells formed in the absence of Treg cell–derived IL-10 displayed an altered dark zone state and decreased expression of the transcription factor Forkhead box protein 1 (FOXO1). IL-10 promoted nuclear translocation of FOXO1 in activated B cells. These data indicate that Tfr cells play a multifaceted role in the fine-tuning of the GC response and identify IL-10 as an important mediator by which Tfr cells support the GC reaction.
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