bioRxiv Science⌕ Search
Home/Archive/bioRxiv

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.01.12.632620

Differentiation of human T follicular helper cells in vitro requires co-operation between STAT3 and SMAD signaling cytokines that is restrained by IL-2

Foster, W. S.·Labeur-Iurman, L.·Williams, G. S.·Robinson, M. J.·Carlesso, G.·Lloyd, C. M.·Harker, J. A.
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

T follicular helper cells (TFH) are a CD4 T cell subset required for effective humoral immunity; promoting antibody responses to vaccines and natural infections. The mechanisms by which human TFH differentiate are not fully understood, and given the anatomical localization to the secondary lymphoid tissues, and asynchronous nature of in vivo TFH populations, studying TFH differentiation in vitro represents an attractive alternative, through which the mechanisms which govern TFH differentiation can be explored. Here we demonstrate reliable differentiation of in vitro TFH from naive human CD4 T cells in a STAT3 dependent fashion. Cooperation between STAT3 and SMAD signaling cytokines led to expression of the lineage defining transcriptional regulator BCL6, multiple downstream proteins required for TFH function and localization (including PD1 and CXCR5), and potent IL-21 production capacity by these in vitro TFH. Critically we found that autocrine production of IL-2 acted as an intrinsic brake on TFH differentiation in vitro; promoting proliferation but limiting the acquisition of a TFH phenotype resembling that found in germinal centers in vivo; neutralization of IL-2 resulting in the emergence of this phenotype. Overall, we show that human TFH expansion, differentiation and function relies on careful regulation of pro- and anti-TFH cytokine signaling.

Explore related subjects

immunologyPreprint

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Foster, W. S., Labeur-Iurman, L., Williams, G. S., Robinson, M. J., Carlesso, G., Lloyd, C. M., Harker, J. A.. 2025-01-15. Differentiation of human T follicular helper cells in vitro requires co-operation between STAT3 and SMAD signaling cytokines that is restrained by IL-2. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.12.632620

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

bioRxiv2026

TFAM Dependent Mitochondrial Fitness Limits CD8⁺ T Cell Immunopathology and Sustains Protective Immunity during Viral Pneumonia

During respiratory virus infection, CD8 T cells kill infected cells and establish antigen-specific memory, but mechanisms regulating these functions remain incompletely understood. Here, we identify mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM)-dependent mitochondrial fitness as a regulator of CD8 T cell function during influenza infection. Human CD8 T cells exhibited an age-associated decline in TFAM expression and mitochondrial function. To model this physiologically relevant decline and determine its consequences for antiviral immunity, we generated CD8 T cell-specific TFAM-haploinsufficient mice. TFAM insufficiency disrupted mitochondrial integrity and bioenergetics and increased mitochondrial DNA and oxidative stress. During influenza infection, TFAM-insufficient CD8 T cells exhibited increased cytotoxic and inflammatory activity associated with lung immunopathology without improved viral control. This early phenotype was followed by loss of effector function, diminished antigen-specific responses, reduced protection following adoptive transfer, and impaired heterosubtypic recall immunity. Thus, TFAM-dependent mitochondrial fitness is a cell-intrinsic regulator that limits immunopathology while sustaining recall immunity.

immunology↗
bioRxiv2026

Gasdermin E couples mitochondrial stress to STING-driven neuronal pyroptosis during Chandipura virus encephalitis

Neurotropic RNA viruses are major causes of fatal encephalitis worldwide, yet how infected neurons transition from antiviral defense to inflammatory cell death is not well characterized. Chandipura virus (CHPV), an emerging neurotropic rhabdovirus, causes acute, rapidly progressive encephalitis with high case fatality in children, but the mechanisms underlying its neuropathogenesis remain poorly defined. Here, we demonstrate that CHPV suppresses canonical RNA virus sensing early but subsequently switches to a mitochondria-driven innate immune program that culminates in inflammatory cell death. Early infection of neuronal cells with CHPV was marked by reduced levels of the mitochondrial antiviral adaptor protein, MAVS and attenuation of type I and III interferon responses. As infection progressed, mitochondrial dysfunction promoted accumulation of mtROS, mitochondrial accumulation of cleaved GSDME and cytosolic mtDNA release, triggering STING activation, which coincided with robust neuroinflammation and pyroptotic cell death. Pharmacological inhibition or genetic silencing of STING markedly attenuated inflammatory signaling, prevented pyroptotic membrane rupture and protected neurons from cell death without significantly affecting viral replication. In contrast, GSDME depletion reduced both viral replication and neuronal death. Notably, GSDME depletion markedly attenuated STING phosphorylation, while STING depletion also reduced GSDME activation, revealing functional coupling between these pathways during CHPV-induced neuronal injury. Collectively, our findings identify a mitochondria-GSDME-STING axis linking early immune evasion to neuroinflammation during CHPV infection, revealing a previously unrecognized mechanism of inflammatory neuronal death in viral encephalitis and highlighting STING as a potential therapeutic target in certain CNS viral infections.

immunology↗
bioRxiv2026

Mutanome-guided immunopeptidomics of blood plasma for neoepitope detection in solid tumors is constrained by cfDNA variant calling sensitivity and MS detection limits

Introduction: Neoepitopes form the basis of tumor-specific immune responses. Tissue biopsy, the primary source for neoepitope detection, is limited and invasive. Therefore, we aimed to identify neoepitopes by mutanome-guided immunopeptidomics from plasma of cancer patients. Methods: Mass spectrometry (MS) data analysis of HLA ligands from plasma (n = 4) was guided by patient-specific mutanomes of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from plasma or tumor genomic DNA (tgDNA) from tissue. Matched tumor tissue and healthy donor plasma served as controls. Neoepitopes were validated with synthetic peptides, and immunogenicity was assessed using IFN-gamma ELISpot and intracellular cytokine staining. Results: Wild-type immunopeptidomes from tissue and plasma overlapped by 58%, with 91% of plasma HLA ligands rediscovered in tissue. 13 out of 15 tumor-associated HLA ligands detected in plasma were rediscovered in the matching tissue. However, no neoepitopes in plasma were identified by immunopeptidomics guided by cfDNA mutanomes, likely reflecting the limited overlap between cfDNA and tgDNA mutanomes (15%). Using the tgDNA mutanome as a complementary reference, two neoepitopes were detected in one patient's plasma, albeit at the MS detection limit. Both neoepitopes were also discovered in tissue, along with three tissue-exclusive neoepitopes. Two tissue-exclusive neoepitopes induced antigen-specific T cell responses in healthy donor PBMCs. Conclusion: In summary, plasma immunopeptidomics enables profiling of HLA ligands from wild-type proteins, including TAAs. In principle, neoepitope detection from plasma at the peptide level is feasible, but tissue remains the gold standard for variant calling and neoepitope identification. Improved detection methods may enable minimally invasive approaches in the future.

immunology↗