AUTHOR=Huang Qizhao , Hu Jianjun , Tang Jianfang , Xu Lifan , Ye Lilin 

TITLE=Molecular Basis of the Differentiation and Function of Virus Specific Follicular Helper CD4+ T Cells

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2019

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2019.00249

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2019.00249

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=Follicular helper T cells are key components of the CD4+ T cell-mediated immune response during viral infection, helping virus-specific B cells to differentiate into plasma cells that produce high-affinity virus-neutralizing antibodies. Similar to Tfh cells generated in other conditions, the differentiation of virus-specific Tfh cells can also be characterized as a process involved multiple factors and stages, however, this process also exhibits distinct features. Here, we mainly focus on the current understanding of Tfh fate commitment, functional maturation, lineage maintenance and memory transition and formation in the context of viral infection.