Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a serious infectious disease that has led to a global pandemic with high morbidity and mortality. High-affinity neutralizing antibody is important for controlling infection, which is closely regulated by follicular helper T (Tfh) cells. Tfh cells play a central role in promoting germinal center reactions and driving cognate B cell differentiation for antibody secretion. Available studies indicate a close relationship between virus-specific Tfh cell-mediated immunity and SARS-CoV-2 infection progression. Although several lines of evidence have suggested that Tfh cells contribute to the control of SARS-CoV-2 infection by eliciting neutralizing antibody productions, further studies are needed to elucidate Tfh-mediated effector mechanisms in anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity. Here, we summarize the functional features and roles of virus-specific Tfh cells in the immunopathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and in COVID-19 vaccines, and highlight the potential of targeting Tfh cells as therapeutic strategy against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, neutralizing antibody, SARS-CoV-2, B cells, Tfh cells, 【초록키워드】 Coronavirus disease 2019, coronavirus, Immunity, SARS-COV-2 infection, Infection, Infectious disease, progression, anti-SARS-CoV-2, B cell, global pandemic, COVID-19 vaccines, cells, Immunopathogenesis, morbidity and mortality, antibody secretion, therapeutic strategy, Cell-mediated immunity, Tfh, Evidence, acute respiratory syndrome, reaction, driving, Effector mechanism, feature, highlight, caused, functional, contribute, suggested, regulated, follicular, Tfh cell, 【제목키워드】 helper,