Bach2 Negatively Regulates T Follicular Helper Cell Differentiation and Is Critical for CD4 T Cell Memory.

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are essential for germinal center B cell responses. The molecular mechanism underlying the initial Tfh cell differentiation, however, is still incompletely understood. In this study, we show that in vivo, despite enhanced non-Tfh cell effector functions, the deletion of transcription factor Bach2 results in preferential Tfh cell differentiation.

Foxp1 Negatively Regulates T Follicular Helper Cell Differentiation and Germinal Center Responses by Controlling Cell Migration and CTLA-4.

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells play an essential role in the formation of germinal centers (GC) and generation of high-affinity Abs. The homing of activated CD4 T cells into B cell follicles and the involvement of key costimulatory and coinhibitory molecules are critical in controlling both the initiation and the magnitude of GC responses. Meanwhile, studies have shown that a high number of single clone B cells leads to intraclonal competition, which inhibits the generation of high-affinity Abs.