Nurten Sayın Ekinci
Şule Darbaş
Fahri Uçar

Abstract

CD8+ cytotoxic T (CD8+ T) cells are involved in the elimination of infected and cancerous cells. Functional cell groups of this immune system differentiate into effector and memory subsets to provide long-term protection. Although CD8+ T cells are rarely recognized as part of germinal center reactions, a new subset of the B cell follicle and germinal center, termed CXCR5+CD8+ follicular cytotoxic T (Tfc) cells, has recently been identified. These cells show a functional profile like CD4+ T follicular helper cells identified to activate B cells. While their functional mechanisms are largely similar, they control disease pathogenesis differently. Tfc cells check viral load during infection as well as support antibody-associated autoimmune disease progression. This review summarizes the phenotype, function, localization and function of Tfc cells and their relationship with diseases.

Keywords:

B cell follicle, germinal center, chronic viral infection, cancer, autoimmune disease, CXCR5⁺CD8⁺ T cells

VOLUME

10

,

ISSUE

2
August 2022

Correspondence

Nurten Sayın Ekinci

Email

sayin.nurten@gmail.com

Received

Accepted

Published

Suggested Citation

DOI

License

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Non-Derivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). License