Follicular helper T (TFH) cells are specialized CD4+ helper T cells that provide help to B cells in humoral immunity. However, the molecular mechanism underlying generation of TFH cells is incompletely understood. Here, we reported that Damage-specific DNA binding protein 1 (Ddb1) was required for expansion of CD4+ helper T cells including TFH and Th1 cells, germinal center response, and antibody response to acute viral infection. Ddb1 deficiency in activated CD4+ T cells resulted in cell cycle arrest at G2-M phase and increased cell death, due to accumulation of DNA damage and hyperactivation of ATM/ATR-Chk1 signaling. Moreover, mice with deletion of both Cul4a and Cul4b in activated CD4+ T cells phenocopied Ddb1-deficient mice, suggesting that E3 ligase-dependent function of Ddb1 was crucial for genome maintenance and helper T-cell generation. Therefore, our results indicate that Ddb1 is an essential positive regulator in the expansion of CD4+ helper T cells.
Keywords: DNA damage response; Ddb1; G2/M arrest; T cell differentiation; Th1; follicular helper T cells; humoral immunity.
Copyright © 2021 Yang, Chen, Li, Xiao, Fan, Zhang, Xia, Li, Hong, Zhao, Li, Liu and Xiao.