CD4+ T Follicular Helper Cells in Human Tonsils and Blood Are Clonally Convergent but Divergent from Non-Tfh CD4+ Cells
Elena Brenna, Alexey N. Davydov, Kristin Ladell, James E. McLaren, Paolo Bonaiuti, Maria Metsger, James D. Ramsden, Sarah C. Gilbert, Teresa Lambe, David A. Price, Suzanne Campion, Dmitriy M. Chudakov, Persephone Borrow, Andrew J. McMichael
Abstract
cells have been unclear. Using donor-matched blood and tonsil samples, we investigate T cell receptor (TCR) sharing between tonsillar Tfh cells and peripheral Tfh and non-Tfh cell populations. TCR transcript sequencing reveals considerable clonal overlap between peripheral and tonsillar Tfh cell subsets as well as a clear distinction between Tfh and non-Tfh cells. Furthermore, influenza-specific cTfh cell clones derived from blood can be found in the repertoire of tonsillar Tfh cells. Therefore, human blood samples can be used to gain insight into the specificity of Tfh responses occurring in lymphoid tissues, provided that cTfh subsets are studied.