Single-cell analysis reveals how immune cells are related and which ones accumulate in the tonsils during childhood

T follicular helper (TFH) cells are a heterogeneous group of immune cells, commonly found in the tonsils, but also detectable in blood. A*STAR scientists have developed a method to distinguish the different types of TFH cells and analyze how they are interrelated. This knowledge may be useful in the future to treat autoimmune diseases and to increase the effectiveness of vaccination.

Scientists from the A*STAR Singapore Immunology Network, led by Evan Newell, identified 15 subtypes of TFH cells, which can be clustered into three major categories: cells that are found only in , only in the tonsils or in both. "We used a single-cell technology based on mass cytometry to analyze the cells according to more than 40 parameters, and then we simplified the interpretation and visualization of the data with statistical methods. Overall, this process allowed us to appreciate the broad diversity of TFH subtypes," explains Newell.

Beyond detecting distinctive cell subtypes, the team also studied how these different TFH cells contribute to the immune response and the immunological memory. After infection, most that help to eliminate the pathogen are cleared from the body, while others, called , are preserved to create a long-term immunity against that pathogen and defend the organism more rapidly in case of reinfection. "The comparison of TFH cells from blood and tonsils allowed us to find that those type of cells present in both tonsils and blood are memory TFH cells," remarks Newell. "They probably represent the cells that circulate in the blood and then migrate from the blood to lymphoid tissues, like tonsils."

While the function of TFH cells in the blood is still unknown, tonsillar TFH cells boost the immune response by helping the maturation of antibody-generating cells (B cells). The researchers also analyzed how tonsillar TFH cells change over time before adulthood. Analysis of children's tonsils revealed that a heterogeneous population of memory TFH cells, containing several TFH subtypes, accumulates over childhood years. When they re-encounter the same pathogen, these memory TFH cells are likely to support a quicker ; one that is diversified according to the specific TFH subtype.

"We mapped a possible pathway by which TFH cells traffic from the blood to the ," explained Newell. "Future studies should address the functional relevance of the numerous subtypes of TFH , as well as determine their association with age and response to vaccinations."

More information: Michael T. Wong et al. Mapping the Diversity of Follicular Helper T Cells in Human Blood and Tonsils Using High-Dimensional Mass Cytometry Analysis, Cell Reports (2015). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.05.022

Journal information: Cell Reports
Citation: Single-cell analysis reveals how immune cells are related and which ones accumulate in the tonsils during childhood (2016, June 15) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-06-single-cell-analysis-reveals-immune-cells.html
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