T follicular helper cells survive as long-term memory cells
European Journal of Immunology, 06/26/2012
Weber JP et al. – T follicular helper (TFH) cells strongly downregulated their signature genes Bcl–6, CXCR5, and PD–1 in the memory phase. Upon rechallenge with antigen they rapidly upregulated these markers again. An enhanced potential to produce IL–21, paired with higher expression of CXCR5 and lower expression of CCR7, should enable TFH memory cells to provide more efficient help for antigen–specific B cells than their non–TFH counterparts.
