Project description:Comparison of transcriptome between early Tfh vs. early Th1 cells Blimp-1-YFP LCMV gp specific TCRtg Smarta cells were transferred into B6 mice, which were then infected with LCMV Armstrong. On day 3 after infection, splenocytes were stained to sort Blimp-1-YFP+IL-2Ra+ Th1 cells or Blimp-1-YFP-IL-2Ra- Tfh cells for RNAseq analysis. Contributor: LIAI RNAi center (LIAI)
Project description:ATAC-Seq experiments were performed to elucidate the chromatin state changes among naïve CD4+ T cells, WT follicular helper T (TFH) cells and WT type 1 helper T (TH1) cells Day2 (D2), Day5 (D5), Day8 (D8) post-LCMV-Armstrong infection, as well as EZH2-null (KO) TFH and TH1 at Day8 post-LCMV-infection. The analysis suggested stringent lineage-specific mode of chromatin accessibility in each group, indicating chromatin remodeling is tightly associated with TFH versus TH1 lineage differentiation in response to acute viral infection. Furthermore, the comparison between wild-type and EZH2-null TFH cells showed that less-opening state of certain chromatin accessible region in TFH-differentiation associated genes in the formers, suggesting EZH2 led to permissive chromatin accessibility primarily at specific regions of TFH-associated genes. H3K27me3-ChIP-seq was performed in WT TFH and TH1 cells to confirm the deposition of the histone marks at those loci.
Project description:Differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into T-helper (Th) effector subsets is critical for protection against pathogens. Together, E-protein transcription factors and the inhibitor-of-DNA binding (Id) proteins are important arbiters of T cell development, but their role in the differentiation of Th1 and Tfh cells is not well understood. Th1 cells show robust Id2 expression compared to Tfh cells, and RNAi depletion of Id2 increased Tfh cell frequencies and germinal center responses, while impairing Th1 cell accumulation during viral infection. Further, Th1 cell differentiation was blocked by genetic ablation of Id2, leading to E-protein dependent accumulation of effector cells with 78% of Th1-associated genes showing diminished expression and a concurrent enrichment of the Tfh gene-expression program. The Tfh-defining transcriptional repressor Bcl6 bound to the Id2 locus inhibiting expression, providing a mechanism by which bimodal expression of Id2 in Tfh and Th1 cells can be established. Thus, Id2 is critical in enforcing the reciprocal development of Th1 and Tfh cell fates. We used microarray to assess the changes in gene expression between Id2-sufficient and -deficient Th1 and Tfh cells.
Project description:Generating durable humoral immunity through vaccination depends upon effective interaction of follicular helper T cells (Tfh) with germinal center (GC) B cells. Th1 polarization of Tfh cells is an important process shaping the success of Tfh-GC B cell interactions by influencing co-stimulatory and cytokine-dependent Tfh help to B cells. However, the question remains whether adjuvant-dependent modulation of Tfh cells enhances HIV-1 vaccine-induced anti-Envelope (Env) antibody responses. We investigated whether an HIV-1 vaccine platform designed to increase the number of Th1-polarized Tfh cells enhances the magnitude and quality of anti-Env antibodies. Utilizing a novel interferon-induced protein (IP)-10-adjuvanted HIV-1 DNA prime, followed by an MPLA+QS-21-adjuvanted Env protein boost in macaques (DIP-10 PALFQ), we observed higher anti-Env serum IgG titers with greater cross-clade reactivity, specificity to V1V2, and effector functions when compared to macaques primed with DNA lacking IP-10 and boosted with MPLA+alum-adjuvanted Env protein (DPALFA) The DIP-10 PALFQ vaccine regimen elicited higher anti-Env IgG1 and lower IgG4 antibodies in serum, showing for the first time that adjuvants can dramatically impact the IgG subclass profile in macaques. The DIP-10 PALFQ regimen also increased vaginal and rectal IgA antibodies to a greater extent. Within lymph nodes, we observed augmented GC B cell responses and promotion of Th1 gene expression profiles in GC Tfh cells. The frequency of GC Tfh cells correlated with both the magnitude and avidity of anti-Env serum IgG. Together, these data suggest that adjuvant-induced stimulation of Th1-Tfh cells is an effective strategy for enhancing the magnitude and quality of anti-Env antibody response.
Project description:CD4 T cell help is critical for both the generation and maintenance of germinal centers, and T follicular helper (TFH) cells are the CD4 T cell subset required for this process. SAP (SH2D1A) expression in CD4 T cells is essential for germinal center development. However, SAP-deficient mice have only a moderate defect in TFH differentiation as defined by common TFH surface markers. CXCR5+ TFH cells are found within the germinal center as well as along the boundary regions of T/B cell zones. Here we show that germinal center associated T cells (GC TFH) can be identified by their co-expression of CXCR5 and the GL7 epitope, allowing for phenotypic and functional analysis of TFH and GC TFH populations. Here we show GC TFH are a functionally discrete subset of further polarized TFH cells, with enhanced B cell help capacity and a specialized ability to produce IL-4 in a TH2-independent manner. Strikingly, SAP-deficient mice have an absence of the GC TFH subset and SAP- TFH are defective in IL-4 and IL-21 production. We further demonstrate that SLAM (Slamf1, CD150), a surface receptor that utilizes SAP signaling, is specifically required for IL-4 production by GC TFH. GC TFH cells require IL-4 and IL-21 production for optimal help to B cells. These data illustrate complexities of SAP-dependent SLAM family receptor signaling, revealing a prominent role for SLAM receptor ligation in IL-4 production by germinal center CD4 T cells but not in TFH and GC TFH differentiation. Analysis of in vivo polyclonal GC Tfh vs Tfh vs Non-Tfh eight days after LCMV viral infection. Analysis of in vivo follicular helper CD4 T cells (CXCR5high GL7low), versus germinal center follicular helper CD4 T cells (CXCR5hi GL7hi), versus non-follicular helper CD4 T cells (CXCR5low) eight days after viral infection.
Project description:Induction of long-lived antibody responses during infection or vaccination is often essential for subsequent protection, but the relative contributions of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells and T helper 1 (Th1) cells for induction of antigen specific antibody responses to viruses are unclear. Here, we establish an acute Zika virus (ZIKV) infection model in immunocompetent mice, and show that ZIKV infection elicits robust Th1-like Tfh cell and protective antibody responses. While these Th1-like Tfh cells share phenotypic and transcriptomic profiles with both Tfh and Th1 cells, they also have unique surface markers and gene expression characteristics, and are dependent on T-bet for their development. Th1-like Tfh cells, but not Th1 cells, are essential for class switching of ZIKV-specific IgG2c antibodies and maintenance of long-term neutralizing antibody responses. Our study suggests that specific modulation of the Th1-like Tfh cell response during infection or vaccination may augment the induction of antiviral antibody response to ZIKV and other viruses.
Project description:The goal of this study was to define the regulation of Tfh cell response during intestinal helminth infection. Using the helminth Trichuris muris, we performed ATAC-seq analysis on Tfh cells that develop during acute vs chronic helminth infection. We found that the epigenetic profile of acute vs chronic induced Tfh cells are distinct by adopting Th2 and Th1 cell phenotypes, respectively. For example, Th2-associated genes such as the Il4 locus was more accessible in acute-induced Tfh cells (and vice versa for Th1-associated genes in chronic-induced Tfh cells).
Project description:The goal of this study was to define the regulation of Tfh cell response during intestinal helminth infection. Using the helminth Trichuris muris, we performed RNA-seq analysis on Tfh cells that develop during acute vs chronic helminth infection. We found that the transcriptomic profile of acute vs chronic induced Tfh cells are distinct and they express Th2/Th1-associated genes, respectively.
Project description:Microarray experiments were performed to demonstrate the transcriptome changes due to Rictor deficiency in memory follicular T helper (Tfh) and Type 1 T helper (Th1) cells. These data revealed that the immunological memory formation and persistance associated genes are changed in Rictor-null memory Tfh and Th1 cells, indicating that Rictor is essential for memory CD4 T cell pool.
Project description:TFH and Th1 cells generated after viral or intracellular bacterial infections are critical for the control of infections and the development of immunological memories. However, the mechanisms that govern the choice of activated CD4 T cells to the two alternative fates remain unclear. Here, we found that reciprocal expression of TCF1 and Blimp1 between viral-specific TFH and Th1 cells started early after infection. TCF1 was intrinsically required for the differentiation of TFH cells. In the absence of TCF1, TFH cells failed to maintain their transcriptional and metabolic signatures, distinct from those in Th1 cells. Mechanistically, TCF1 functioned through forming negative feedback loops with IL-2 and Blimp1 signaling. Thus, we have demonstrated an essential role of TCF1 in TFH-cell differentiation. Tcf7 deficient and WT SMARTA CD4 T cells were isolated from mice 8 days after Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV) infection. TFH and Th1 cells were separated by FACS.