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T follicular helper (Tfh) cells have emerged as a critical limiting factor for controlling the magnitude of neonatal germinal center (GC) reactions and primary vaccine antibody responses. We compared the functional attributes of neonatal and adult Tfh cells at the transcriptomic level and demonstrated that the Tfh cell program is well-initiated in neonates although the Tfh gene-expression pattern (i.e., CXCR5, IL-21, BCL6, TBK1, STAT4, ASCL2, and c-MAF) is largely underrepresented as compared to adult Tfh cells. Importantly, we identified a TH2-bias of neonatal Tfh cells, with preferential differentiation toward short-lived pre-Tfh effector cells. Remarkably, adjuvantation with CpG-ODNs redirect neonatal pre-Tfh cells toward committed GC-Tfh cells, as illustrated by increased expression of Tfh signature genes and reduced expression of TH2-related genes.

Original publication

DOI

10.3389/fimmu.2019.01845

Type

Journal article

Journal

Front Immunol

Publication Date

2019

Volume

10

Keywords

T follicular helper cells, adjuvant, neonates, transcriptional profile analysis, vaccines, Adaptive Immunity, Adjuvants, Immunologic, Aging, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Germinal Center, Immunity, Innate, Interleukin-13, Lymphopoiesis, Mice, Inbred C57BL, T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer, Th2 Cells, Transcriptome