Mechanisms of regulatory T-cell control of humoral immunity

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25860356
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Immunology
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: WING James 大阪大学, 免疫学フロンティア研究センター, 特任助教 (00648694)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): SAKAGUCHI Shimon 大阪大学, 免疫学フロンティア研究センター, 教授 (30280770) ; KUROSAKI Tomohiro 大阪大学, 免疫学フロンティア研究センター, 特任教授 (50178125) ; ISE Wataru 大阪大学, 免疫学フロンティア研究センター, 特任准教授 (70323483)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: Regulatory T-cells / T follicular helper / Vaccination / Antibody response

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I discovered that Tregs control the formation of Tfh and resulting B-cell germinal center reactions via the suppressive molecule CTLA-4. This is achieved by depletion of the costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 from the surface of antigen presenting B-cells and dendritic cells which are critical for the formation of Tfh. Since Tfh are vital for the production of high quality antibody responses and B-cell memory this means that Treg are able to control the production of antibody via CTLA-4.

Free Research Field

Immunology