How T follicular helper cells and the germinal centre response change with age. Issue 1 (12th November 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Linterman, Michelle A
• Is Part Of: Immunology and cell biology. Volume 92:Issue 1(2014)
• Page Start: 72
• Page End: 79
• Publication Date: 2013-11-12
• Subjects: ageing -- germinal centre -- immunisation -- immunosenescence -- T follicular helper cells -- vaccination; Immunology -- Periodicals; Cytology -- Periodicals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.1038/icb.2013.77
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0818-9641

Abstract

Abstract : Normal ageing is accompanied by a decline in the function of the immune system that causes an increased susceptibility to infections and an impaired response to vaccination in older individuals. This results in an increased disease burden in the aged population, even with good immunisation programmes in place. The decreased response to vaccination is partly due to the diminution of the germinal centre response with age, caused by impaired T‐cell help to B cells. Within the germinal centre, T‐cell help is provided by a specialised subset of CD4 + T cells; T follicular helper (Tfh) cells. Tfh cells provide survival and selection signals to germinal centre B cells, allowing them to egress from the germinal centre and become long‐live plasma cells or memory B cells, and provide life‐long protection against subsequent infection. This review will discuss the cellular and molecular changes in both Tfh cells and germinal centre B cells that occur with advancing age, which result in a smaller germinal centre response and a less effective response to immunisation. Abstract : The January 2014 issue contains a Special Feature on The Temporospatial Control of Tfh Cells . The reviews featured bring together an enormous amount of insight into Tfh biology: they demonstrate that we have a good understanding of Tfh differentiation and function, but that there is still more to be learned about the intriguing population of helper T cells specialised to help B cells. Furthermore, they outline how important this subset is in both health and disease, and demonstrate that furthering our knowledge of this subset will have implications for improving the efficacy of vaccination, the control of infection, the treatment of both autoimmunity and immunodeficiency and even understanding the outcome of a number of different types of cancer. Immunology and Cell Biology would like to thank the coordinators of this Special Feature – Di Yu and Michelle Linterman – for their planning and input. Further background information on this important topic is available through the accompanying web focus which links to related articles from across Nature Publishing Group.