[PDF][PDF] Control of germinal center localization and lineage stability of follicular regulatory T cells by the Blimp1 transcription factor

E Shen, H Rabe, L Luo, L Wang, Q Wang, J Yin… - Cell reports, 2019 - cell.com
E Shen, H Rabe, L Luo, L Wang, Q Wang, J Yin, X Yang, W Liu, JM Sido, H Nakagawa, L Ao…
Cell reports, 2019cell.com
Summary Follicular regulatory T (T FR) cells are a specialized suppressive subset that
controls the germinal center (GC) response and maintains humoral self-tolerance. The
mechanisms that maintain T FR lineage identity and suppressive activity remain largely
unknown. Here, we show that expression of Blimp1 by FoxP3+ T FR cells is essential for T
FR lineage stability, entry into the GC, and expression of regulatory activity. Deletion of
Blimp1 in T FR cells reduced FoxP3 and CTLA-4 expression and increased pro …
Summary
Follicular regulatory T (TFR) cells are a specialized suppressive subset that controls the germinal center (GC) response and maintains humoral self-tolerance. The mechanisms that maintain TFR lineage identity and suppressive activity remain largely unknown. Here, we show that expression of Blimp1 by FoxP3+ TFR cells is essential for TFR lineage stability, entry into the GC, and expression of regulatory activity. Deletion of Blimp1 in TFR cells reduced FoxP3 and CTLA-4 expression and increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and spontaneous production of autoantibodies, including elevated IgE. Maintenance of TFR stability reflected Blimp1-dependent repression of the IL-23R-STAT3 axis and activation of the CD25-STAT5 pathway, while silenced IL-23R-STAT3 or increased STAT5 activation rescued the Blimp1-deficient TFR phenotype. Blimp1-dependent control of CXCR5/CCR7 expression also regulated TFR homing into the GC. These findings uncover a Blimp1-dependent TFR checkpoint that enforces suppressive activity and acts as a gatekeeper of GC entry.
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