| First Author | Choi YS | Year | 2013 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 190 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 3049-53 |
| PubMed ID | 23447690 | Mgi Jnum | J:194834 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5474891 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.1203032 |
| Citation | Choi YS, et al. (2013) Cutting Edge: STAT1 Is Required for IL-6-Mediated Bcl6 Induction for Early Follicular Helper Cell Differentiation. J Immunol 190(7):3049-53 |
| abstractText | Bcl6 is required for CD4 T cell differentiation into T follicular helper cells (Tfh). In this study, we examined the role of IL-6 in early processes of in vivo Tfh differentiation, because the timing and mechanism of action of IL-6 in Tfh differentiation have been controversial in vivo. We found that early Bcl6(+)CXCR5(+) Tfh differentiation was severely impaired in the absence of IL-6; however, STAT3 deficiency failed to recapitulate that defect. IL-6R signaling activates the transcription factor STAT1 specifically in CD4 T cells. Strikingly, we found that STAT1 activity was required for Bcl6 induction and early Tfh differentiation in vivo. IL-6 mediated STAT3 activation is important for downregulation of IL-2Ralpha to limit Th1 cell differentiation in an acute viral infection. Thus, IL-6 signaling is a major early inducer of the Tfh differentiation program unexpectedly mediated by both STAT3 and STAT1 transcription factors. |
