Tuesday June 21, from 12.00 to 13.00
Seminar with Fabienne Tacchini-Cottier, University of Lausanne, WHO-IRTC, Departement of Biochemistry, Epalinges, Switzerland

"New insights in the differentiation of follicular helper T cells"

Upon activation by pathogens, naïve CD4⁺ T cells can differentiate into several functionally distinct T_H subsets, defined on the basis of their secretion of cytokines with specific immuno-modulatory effects. T_H subsets include the T_H1, T_H2, T_H17, Treg, and the recently described follicular helper T cells (T_FH). T_FH cells are critical in the production of high affinity antibodies triggered by cognate interactions with B cells. The mechanism(s) involved in the differentiation of the T_FH subset are not completely understood. The implication of the Notch signaling pathway in CD4⁺in T_FH differentiation will be presented.