Transient disruption of T cell help impairs germinal center dynamics and memory responses

Science Immunology 2026

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Authors: Louise M. C. Webb, Helena A Carslaw, Jessica James, Emily M. Watson, Silvia Innocentin, J. Assalaarachchi, Sigrid Fra-Bido, Isabel San Martín Molina, Stéphane M. Guillaume, Sam Woolliscroft, Alice R. Burton, Grant M. Kennedy
+1 more Michelle A. Linterman
DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adu9280
Cited by: 4
References: 70

Abstract

T follicular helper (T FH ) cells are essential for germinal center (GC) formation and long-lived humoral immunity. Here, we used an Il21 fate mapping (Il21-fm) strategy to remove T FH cells from established GCs to disentangle their function from that of other T cells in a temporal manner. We confirm their role in driving proliferation and positive selection of GC B cells but show that GCs can survive the transient absence of T FH cells. After ablation of T FH cells, both the GC response and affinity maturation recover via ingress of new T FH cells. Despite recovery of the B cell response, T FH cell numbers are never fully restored. This feeds through into the T cell memory response, resulting in diminished recall GC responses. This work shows an unappreciated resilience of primary GC responses to perturbations in T FH cells and demonstrates critical memory T cell generation during this phase.

Fields of Study & Subjects

T-cell and B-cell Immunology CAR-T cell therapy research Immunotherapy and Immune Responses

Publication details

Journal / source
Science Immunology
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Volume
11
Issue
115
Pages
eadu9280–eadu9280
Publication date
23 January 2026
Language
EN