| First Author | Yang R | Year | 2016 |
| Journal | J Exp Med | Volume | 213 |
| Issue | 11 | Pages | 2281-2291 |
| PubMed ID | 27670591 | Mgi Jnum | J:237259 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5811917 | Doi | 10.1084/jem.20160417 |
| Citation | Yang R, et al. (2016) IL-6 promotes the differentiation of a subset of naive CD8+ T cells into IL-21-producing B helper CD8+ T cells. J Exp Med 213(11):2281-2291 |
| abstractText | IL-6 is known to contribute to the differentiation of CD4+ T cells into different subsets of effector T helper cells. Less is known about the potential of IL-6 in regulating CD8+ T cell effector function. Here, we identify IL-6 as a master regulator of IL-21 in effector CD8+ T cells. IL-6 promotes the differentiation of a subset of naive CD8+ T cells that express IL-6R into a unique population of effector CD8+ T cells characterized by the production of high levels of IL-21 and low levels of IFN-gamma. Similar to CD4+ T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, IL-21-producing CD8+ T cells generated in the presence of IL-6 directly provide help to B cells to induce isotype switching. CD8+ T cell-derived IL-21 contributes to the production of protective virus-specific IgG antibodies during influenza virus infection. Thus, this study reveals the presence of a new mechanism by which IL-6 regulates antibody production during viral infection, and a novel function of effector CD8+ T cells in the protection against viruses. |
