{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "0f6dffbcd0094686a6246a48793ebf5f", "timestamp": "2026-09-01T08:31:31.602Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/0f6dffbcd0094686a6246a48793ebf5f.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/0f6dffbcd0094686a6246a48793ebf5f"}}, "title": "Pre-existing CD4 T cell help boosts antibody responses but has limited impact on germinal center, antigen-specific B cell frequencies after influenza infection.", "authors": [{"family": "Besavilla", "given": "Danica F", "initials": "DF"}, {"family": "Reusch", "given": "Laura", "initials": "L"}, {"family": "Enriquez", "given": "Josue", "initials": "J"}, {"family": "Sch\u00f6n", "given": "Karin", "initials": "K"}, {"family": "Angeletti", "given": "Davide", "initials": "D"}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2023-08-30", "journal": {"title": "Front Immunol", "issn": "1664-3224", "volume": "14", "pages": "1243164", "issn-l": "1664-3224"}, "abstract": "The influenza virus is a persistent burden on global health, with seasonal vaccines providing incomplete protection. CD4+ T cells help shape B cell and antibody responses; however, the selectivity of help and the effect on various antigen-specific B cell populations have not been fully elucidated. Here, we studied the specificity, selectivity, and influence of nucleoprotein (NP) CD4+ T cells on the magnitude and quality of hemagglutinin (HA) and NP-specific B cells and antibody responses. We identified immunodominant peptides and showed that peptide immunization was sufficient to induce CD4+ cells with Th1 and Tfh phenotypes. Surprisingly, while preexisting CD4+ T cells enhanced the influx of total germinal center (GC) B cells in the mediastinal lymph node after infection, this was not reflected by an increase in the frequency of antigen-specific cells within the GC. Furthermore, we demonstrated that NP-specific help was able to accelerate the kinetics and magnitude of the Ab response for NP but not for HA. Overall, our results showed that pre-existing CD4+ T cells provide strong cognate help during immunization or infection to enhance Ab production but not antigen-specific GC or memory B cells.", "doi": "10.3389/fimmu.2023.1243164", "pmid": "37711622", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC10499173"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T13:06:46.334Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T13:06:46.347Z"}