Frontiers in Immunology (Mar 2023)

Regulation of CD8 T cell by B-cells: A narrative review

  • Tess Van Meerhaeghe,
  • Tess Van Meerhaeghe,
  • Antoine Néel,
  • Antoine Néel,
  • Sophie Brouard,
  • Nicolas Degauque

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1125605
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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Activation of CD4 T cells by B cells has been extensively studied, but B cell-regulated priming, proliferation, and survival of CD8 T cells remains controversial. B cells express high levels of MHC class I molecules and can potentially act as antigen-presenting cells (APCs) for CD8 T cells. Several in vivo studies in mice and humans demonstrate the role of B cells as modulators of CD8 T cell function in the context of viral infections, autoimmune diseases, cancer and allograft rejection. In addition, B-cell depletion therapies can lead to impaired CD8 T-cell responses. In this review, we attempt to answer 2 important questions: 1. the role of B cell antigen presentation and cytokine production in the regulation of CD8 T cell survival and cell fate determination, and 2. The role of B cells in the formation and maintenance of CD8 T cell memory.

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