ZIKV infection induces robust Th1-like Tfh cell and long-term protective antibody responses in immunocompetent mice

Nat Commun. 2019 Aug 27;10(1):3859. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-11754-0.

Abstract

Induction of long-lived antibody responses during infection or vaccination is often essential for subsequent protection, but the relative contributions of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells and T helper 1 (Th1) cells for induction of antigen specific antibody responses to viruses are unclear. Here, we establish an acute Zika virus (ZIKV) infection model in immunocompetent mice, and show that ZIKV infection elicits robust Th1-like Tfh cell and protective antibody responses. While these Th1-like Tfh cells share phenotypic and transcriptomic profiles with both Tfh and Th1 cells, they also have unique surface markers and gene expression characteristics, and are dependent on T-bet for their development. Th1-like Tfh cells, but not Th1 cells, are essential for class switching of ZIKV-specific IgG2c antibodies and maintenance of long-term neutralizing antibody responses. Our study suggests that specific modulation of the Th1-like Tfh cell response during infection or vaccination may augment the induction of antiviral antibody response to ZIKV and other viruses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / metabolism
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / metabolism
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Host Microbial Interactions / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin Class Switching / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin G / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Interferon-gamma / genetics
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / metabolism
  • Vero Cells
  • Zika Virus / immunology*
  • Zika Virus Infection / immunology*
  • Zika Virus Infection / virology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • IFNG protein, mouse
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • T-box transcription factor TBX21
  • Interferon-gamma