With a little help from T follicular helper friends: Humoral immunity to influenza vaccination

Abstract

Influenza remains a global and unpredictable threat. Annual vaccination against influenza A and B viruses promotes the induction of Abs and memory B cells, which can provide strain-specific protection against subsequent infections. The formation of effective memory B cell and Ab responses is highly dependent on the germinal center reaction, a well-orchestrated process involving B cells and a specialized CD4 + T cell subset called T follicular helper (Tfh) cells. As Tfh cells predominantly reside within B cell follicles in secondary lymphoid organs, they are challenging to study in humans. Recent identification of a circulating counterpart of Tfh cells has allowed us to better understand the ..