This study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 32300785 to X.C.), the China National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents (No. BX20230449 to X.C.), and the National Science and Technology Major Project (No. 2021YFC2300602 to L.Y.).

All animal experiments were conducted following procedures approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees of the Third Military Medical University. The following mouse strains were used in the present study: C57BL/6J (B6) mouse (both genders), aged 6 to 8 weeks, weighing 25-30 g; CD45.1+SM TCR transgenic mouse (B6 CD45.1 &#215; SM TCR transgenic), both genders, aged 6 to 8 weeks, weighing 25-30 g; and CXCR5-GFP CD45.1+SM TCR transgenic mouse (B6 CD45.1 &#215; SM TCR transgenic &#215; C...

Deciphering Early Follicular Helper T-Cell Commitment in Acute LCMV Infection

<ol>
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S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bcl6+expressing+follicular+helper+CD4+T+cells+are+fate+committed+early+and+have+the+capacity+to+form+memory.">Bcl6 expressing follicular helper CD4 T cells are fate committed early and have the capacity to form memory.</a> J Immunol. 190 (8), 4014-4026 (2013).</li><li>Johnston, R. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bcl6+and+BLIMP-1+are+reciprocal+and+antagonistic+regulators+of+T+follicular+helper+cell+differentiation.">Bcl6 and BLIMP-1 are reciprocal and antagonistic regulators of T follicular helper cell differentiation.</a> Science. 325 (5943), 1006-1010 (2009).</li><li>Nurieva, R. I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bcl6+mediates+the+development+of+T+follicular+helper+cells.">Bcl6 mediates the development of T follicular helper cells.</a> Science. 325 (5943), 1001-1005 (2009).</li><li>Yu, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+transcriptional+repressor+bcl-6+directs+T+follicular+helper+cell+lineage+commitment.">The transcriptional repressor bcl-6 directs T follicular helper cell lineage commitment.</a> Immunity. 31 (3), 457-468 (2009).</li><li>Choi, Y. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=LEF1+and+TCF1+orchestrate+T(FH)+differentiation+by+regulating+differentiation+circuits+upstream+of+the+transcriptional+repressor+bcl6.">LEF1 and TCF1 orchestrate T(FH) differentiation by regulating differentiation circuits upstream of the transcriptional repressor bcl6.</a> Nat Immunol. 16 (9), 980-990 (2015).</li><li>Wu, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=TCF1+is+required+for+the+t+follicular+helper+cell+response+to+viral+infection.">TCF1 is required for the t follicular helper cell response to viral infection.</a> Cell Rep. 12 (12), 2099-2110 (2015).</li><li>Xu, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+transcription+factor+TCF-1+initiates+the+differentiation+of+T(FH)+cells+during+acute+viral+infection.">The transcription factor TCF-1 initiates the differentiation of T(FH) cells during acute viral infection.</a> Nat Immunol. 16 (9), 991-999 (2015).</li><li>Oestreich, K. J., Mohn, S. E., Weinmann, A. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Molecular+mechanisms+that+control+the+expression+and+activity+of+bcl-6+in+th1+cells+to+regulate+flexibility+with+a+TFH-like+gene+profile.">Molecular mechanisms that control the expression and activity of bcl-6 in th1 cells to regulate flexibility with a TFH-like gene profile.</a> Nat Immunol. 13 (4), 405-411 (2012).</li><li>Choi, Y. S., Eto, D., Yang, J. A., Lao, C., Crotty, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cutting+edge:+STAT1+is+required+for+IL-6-mediated+bcl6+induction+for+early+follicular+helper+cell+differentiation.">Cutting edge: STAT1 is required for IL-6-mediated bcl6 induction for early follicular helper cell differentiation.</a> J Immunol. 190 (7), 3049-3053 (2013).</li><li>Chen, X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+histone+methyltransferase+ezh2+primes+the+early+differentiation+of+follicular+helper+T+cells+during+acute+viral+infection.">The histone methyltransferase ezh2 primes the early differentiation of follicular helper T cells during acute viral infection.</a> Cell Mol Immunol. 17 (3), 247-260 (2020).</li><li>Li, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ezh2+programs+T(FH)+differentiation+by+integrating+phosphorylation-dependent+activation+of+bcl6+and+polycomb-dependent+repression+of+p19ARF.">Ezh2 programs T(FH) differentiation by integrating phosphorylation-dependent activation of bcl6 and polycomb-dependent repression of p19ARF.</a> Nat Commun. 9 (1), 5452 (2018).</li><li>Yao, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=METTL3-dependent+m(6)A+modification+programs+T+follicular+helper+cell+differentiation.">METTL3-dependent m(6)A modification programs T follicular helper cell differentiation.</a> Nat Commun. 12 (1), 1333 (2021).</li><li>Johnston, R. 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The research in the field of TFH cells has been highlighted since the discovery of the specialized function of TFH cells in helping B cells. Accumulating studies indicated that TFH cell differentiation is a multistage and multifactorial process30, wherein the TFH cell fate commitment is determined in the early stage5. Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying early-differentiated TFH cells is crucia...

Encountering different pathogens or threats, na&#239;ve CD4+ T cells tailor their immune responses by differentiating into various helper T (TH) cell subsets with specialized functions1. In the scenario of acute viral infection, a large portion of na&#239;ve CD4+ T cells differentiate into follicular helper T (TFH) cells that provide help to B cells2,3. Distinct from other CD4+ TH cell subsets (e.g., TH1, TH2, TH9, and TH17 cells), TFH cells express a substantial level of CXCR5, which is the chemokine receptor for the B cell homing chemokine CXCL13, enabling TFH cells to migrate into B cell follicles. In the B cell follicles, TFH cells assist cognate B cells in initiating and maintaining germinal center reactions, thus enabling rapid high-affinity antibody production and long-term humoral memory2,3.
Upon acute viral infection, the early fate commitment of virus-specific TFH cells occurs within 72 h4,5and is controlled by the transcriptional repressor B cell lymphoma-6 (Bcl-6)5,6,7,8, which acts as the &#34;master regulator&#34; governing TFH cell fate decisions. Deficiency of Bcl-6 severely blunts TFH cell differentiation, while ectopic Bcl-6 expression substantially promotes TFH cell fate commitment. In addition to Bcl-6, multiple molecules are involved in instructing early TFH cell fate commitment. Transcription factors TCF-1 and LEF-1 initiate TFH cell differentiation via the induction of Bcl-69,10,11. The inhibition of Blimp1, by both Bcl-6 and TCF-1, is required for early TFH cell fate commitment11,12. STAT1 and STAT3 are also required for early TFH cell differentiation13. Besides, epigenetic modifications by histone methyltransferase EZH214,15and m6A methyltransferase METTL316 help to stabilize TFH cell transcriptional programs (especially Bcl6 and Tcf7) and thus prime early TFH cell fate commitment. While advances, including the aforementioned molecules and others, summarized elsewhere3, have been made in understanding the transcriptional and epigenetic regulations of early TFH&#160;cell fate commitment, previously unknown molecules remain to be learned.
In the mouse model of acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection, adoptively transferred congenic TCR-transgenic SMARTA (SM) CD4+ T cells, which specifically recognize the LCMV glycoprotein epitope I-AbGP66-77, undergo either TFH or TH1 cell differentiation during viral infection. This TFH/TH1 bifurcation differentiation pattern supports the advancement of the SM/acute LCMV infection model in studying the biology of virus-specific TFH cells. Indeed, the SM/acute LCMV infection model has been widely used in the TFH cell research field and has played a crucial role in milestone discoveries in TFH cell biology. This includes the identification of the aforementioned Bcl-6 as the lineage-defining transcription factor of TFH cells5,6, as well as other important transcriptional factors (e.g., Blimp-16, TCF-1/LEF9,10,11, STAT1/STAT313, STAT517, KLF218, and Itch19) guiding TFH cell differentiation, post-transcriptional regulations (e.g., METTL316 and miR-17~9220) of TFH cell differentiation, TFH cell memory and plasticity21,22, and rational vaccination strategies targeting TFH cells (e.g., selenium23).
The current study describes reproducible methods for accessing the early fate commitment of virus-specific TFH cells, including (1) establishing an acute LCMV-infected SM chimera mouse model suitable for accessing early-differentiated TFH cells, (2) conducting flow cytometry stainings of molecules related to early-differentiated TFH cells, and (3) performing retroviral vector-based gene manipulation in SM CD4+ T cells. These methods will be useful for studies investigating the early fate commitment of virus-specific TFH cells.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>0.25% Trypsin-EDTA</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>25-052-CI</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>4% Paraformaldehyde Fix Solution, 4% PFA</td>
			<td>Beyotime</td>
			<td>P0099-500mL</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>70 &#956;m cell strainer</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>CLS431751</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alexa Fluor 647 anti-mouse TCR V&#945;2 (clone B20.1)</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>127812</td>
			<td>1:200 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alexa Fluor 700 anti-mouse CD45.1 (clone A20)</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>110724</td>
			<td>1:200 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>APC anti-mouse CD25 (clone PC61)</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>101910</td>
			<td>1:200 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>B6 CD45.1 (B6.SJL-Ptprca Pepcb/BoyJ) mouse</td>
			<td>The Jackson Laboratory</td>
			<td>002014</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BeaverBeads Streptavidin</td>
			<td>Beaver</td>
			<td>22321-10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biotin anti-mouse F4/80 Antibody (clone BM8)</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>123106</td>
			<td>1:200 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biotin Rat anti-mouse CD11c (clone N418)</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>117304</td>
			<td>1:200 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biotin Rat anti-Mouse CD19 (clone 6D5)</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>115504</td>
			<td>1:200 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biotin Rat anti-Mouse CD8a (clone 53-6.7)</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>100704</td>
			<td>1:200 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biotin Rat anti-mouse NK-1.1 (clone PK136)</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>108704</td>
			<td>1:200 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biotin Rat anti-mouse TER-119/Erythroid Cells (clone TER-119)</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>116204</td>
			<td>1:200 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>bovine serum albumin, BSA</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A7906</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Brilliant Violet 421 anti-T-bet (clone 4B10)</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>644816</td>
			<td>1:100 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Brilliant Violet 605 anti-mouse CD279 (PD-1) (clone 29F.1A12)</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>135220</td>
			<td>1:200 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>C57BL/6J (B6) mouse</td>
			<td>The Jackson Laboratory</td>
			<td>000664</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CXCR5-GFP knock-in reporter mouse</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>In house; the CXCR5-GFP knock-in mouse line was generated by the insertion of an IRES-GFP construct after the open reading frame of Cxcr5.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM 10% medium</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>DMEM medium containing 10% FBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM medium</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>11885092</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EDTA</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>E9884</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FACSFortesa</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum, FBS</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>F8318</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FlowJo (version 10.4.0)</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Foxp3/Transcription Factor Staining Buffer Set</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>00-5523-00</td>
			<td>The kit contains three reagents: a. Fixation/Permeabilization Concentrate (4X); b. Fixation / Permeabilization Diluent; c. Permeabilization Buffer.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat Anti-Rat IgG Antibody (H+L), Biotinylated</td>
			<td>Vector laboratories</td>
			<td>BA-9400-1.5</td>
			<td>1:200 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Invitrogen EVOS FL Auto Cell Imaging System</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isolation buffer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>FACS buffer containing 0.5% BSA and 2mM EDTA</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LCMV GP61-77 peptide (GLKGPDIYKGVYQFKSV)</td>
			<td>Chinese Peptide Company</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LIVE/DEAD Fixable Near-IR Dead Cell Stain Kit, for 633 or 635 nm excitation</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>L10199</td>
			<td>1:200 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MigR1</td>
			<td>addgene</td>
			<td>#27490</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaN3</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S2002</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Opti-MEM medium</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>31985070</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pCL-Eco</td>
			<td>addgene</td>
			<td>#12371</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PE anti-mouse CD69 (clone H1.2F3)</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>104508</td>
			<td>1:200 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PE Mouse anti-Bcl-6 (clone K112-91)</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>561522</td>
			<td>1:50 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate buffered saline, PBS</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>10010072</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polybrene</td>
			<td>Solarbio</td>
			<td>H8761</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Purified Rat Anti-Mouse CXCR5 (clone 2G8)</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>551961</td>
			<td>1:50 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rat monoclonal PerCP anti-mouse CD4 (clone RM4-5)</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>100538</td>
			<td>1:200 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>recombinant murine IL-2</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>212-12-1MG</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Red Blood Cell Lysis Buffer</td>
			<td>Beyotime</td>
			<td>C3702-500mL</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RPMI 1640 medium</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>R8758</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RPMI 2%</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>RPMI 1640 medium containing 2% FBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SMARTA (SM) TCR transgenic mouse</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>SM TCR transgenic line in our lab is a gift from Dr. Rafi Ahmed (Emory University). Additionally, this mouse line can also be obtained from The Jackson Laboratory (stain#: 030450).</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Staining buffer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>PBS containing 2% FBS and 0.01% NaN3</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Streptavidin PE-Cyanine7</td>
			<td>eBioscience</td>
			<td>25-4317-82</td>
			<td>1:200 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TCF1/TCF7 (C63D9) Rabbit mAb (Alexa Fluor 488 Conjugate)&#160;</td>
			<td>Cell signaling technology</td>
			<td>6444S</td>
			<td>1:400 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TFH cell staining buffer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>FACS buffer containing 1% BSA and 2% mouse serum</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TransIT-293 reagent</td>
			<td>Mirus Bio</td>
			<td>MIRUMIR2700</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

accessing early differentiation of virus-specific follicular helper cd4+ t cell in acute lcmv-infected mice

Follicular Helper T (TFH) cells are perceived as an independent CD4+ T cell lineage that assists cognate B cells in producing high-affinity antibodies, thus establishing long-term humoral immunity. During acute viral infection, the fate commitment of virus-specific TFH cells is determined in the early infection phase, and investigations of the early-differentiated TFH cells are crucial in understanding T cell-dependent humoral immunity and optimizing vaccine design. In the study, using a mouse model of acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection and the TCR-transgenic SMARTA (SM) mouse with CD4+ T cells specifically recognizing LCMV glycoprotein epitope I-AbGP66-77, we described procedures to access the early fate commitment of virus-specific TFH cells based on flow cytometry stainings. Furthermore, by exploiting retroviral transduction of SM CD4+ T cells, methods to manipulate gene expression in early-differentiated virus-specific TFH cells are also provided. Hence, these methods will help in studies exploring the mechanism(s) underlying the early commitment of virus-specific TFH cells.

Author Spotlight: Elucidating the Pathways of TFH Cell Differentiation in Acute LCMV Challenges

Accessing Early Differentiation of Virus-Specific Follicular Helper CD4+ T Cell in Acute LCMV-Infected Mice

Our research describes reproducible methods for assessing the early fate commitment of virus-specific TFH cells, including establishing acute LCMV-infected monoclonal mouse model, conducting flow cytometry staining, and performing retroviral-vector-based gene manipulation. Compared to in-vitro T-cell stimulation, in-vivo stimulation could activate T cells more quickly, even in 12 hours, and it's fully activated for the next retrovirus transduction. Our findings will help in studies exploring the mechanisms underlying the early commitment of various specific TFH cells.Furthermore, our research will contribute to understanding T-cell-dependent humoral immunity and optimizing vaccine design.

Characteristics of early-differentiated virus-specific TFH cells during acute LCMV infection 
To probe the early fate commitment of virus-specific TFH cells, na&#239;ve congenic SM CD4+ T cells that specifically recognize LCMV GP epitope I-AbGP66-77 were adoptively transferred into CD45.2+ C57BL/6 recipients. The next day, these recipients were intravenously infected with a high dosage of the acutely resolved LCMV Armstrong (<strong c...

Read this Scientific Article Protocol about Accessing Early Differentiation of Virus-Specific Follicular Helper CD4+ T Cell in Acute LCMV-Infected Mice at JoVE.com

The current study showcases protocols for assessing the early fate commitment of virus-specific TFH cells and manipulating gene expression in these cells.

Follicular Helper T (TFH) cells are perceived as an independent CD4+ T cell lineage that assists cognate B cells in producing high-affinity antibodies, ...

accessing-early-differentiation-virus-specific-follicular-helper-cd4