| First Author | Kitano M | Year | 2011 |
| Journal | Immunity | Volume | 34 |
| Issue | 6 | Pages | 961-72 |
| PubMed ID | 21636294 | Mgi Jnum | J:174014 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5050780 | Doi | 10.1016/j.immuni.2011.03.025 |
| Citation | Kitano M, et al. (2011) Bcl6 protein expression shapes pre-germinal center B cell dynamics and follicular helper T cell heterogeneity. Immunity 34(6):961-72 |
| abstractText | The transcription factor Bcl6 is essential for the development of germinal center (GC) B cells and follicular helper T (Tfh) cells. However, little is known about in vivo dynamics of Bcl6 protein expression during and after development of these cells. By using a Bcl6 reporter mouse strain, we found that antigen-engaged B cells upregulated Bcl6 before clustering in GCs. Two-photon microscopic analysis indicated that Bcl6 upregulation in pre-GC B cells contributed to sustaining their interactions with helper T cells and was required for their entry to GC clusters. Our data also suggested that Tfh cells gradually downmodulated Bcl6 protein over weeks after development. The Bcl6-low Tfh cells rapidly terminated proliferation and upregulated IL-7 receptor. These results clarify the role of Bcl6 in pre-GC B cell dynamics and highlight the modulation of Bcl6 expression in Tfh cells that persist in the late phase of the antibody response. |
