T follicular regulatory cells in food allergy promote IgE via IL-4

Abstract

T follicular regulatory (TFR) cells are found in the germinal center (GC) response and, along with T follicular helper (TFH) cells, help to control the development of high-affinity antibodies (Ab). Although TFR cells are generally thought to repress GC B cells and the Ab response, we have previously shown that in a mouse food allergy model, TFR cells produce IL-10 and play an essential helper role such that in the absence of TFR cells, IgE responses are diminished. Here we show that in this food allergy response, TFR cells produced IL-4 that promotes the generation of antigen-specific IgE. We show that food allergy-primed TFR cells specifically upregulate IL-4 gene transcription and produce functional IL-4 that promoted IgE responses both in vitro and in vivo. We determined that IgE responses are dependent on a high level of IL-4 produced by follicular T cells in the GC, explaining the need for IL-4 produced by TFR cells in the food allergy response. Overall, our findings have demonstrated that in food allergy, TFR cells can produce IL-4 and regulate IgE in a manner that augments the role of TFH cells in IgE responses.