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  • Title: Bach2 Deficiency Leads to Spontaneous Expansion of IL-4-Producing T Follicular Helper Cells and Autoimmunity.
    Author: Zhang H, Hu Q, Zhang M, Yang F, Peng C, Zhang Z, Huang C.
    Journal: Front Immunol; 2019; 10():2050. PubMed ID: 31552021.
    Abstract:
    The transcription factor Bach2 is a susceptible gene for numerous autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Bach2-/- mice can develop a lupus-like autoimmune disease. However, the exact cellular and molecular mechanisms via which Bach2 protects the hosts from developing autoimmunity remains incompletely understood. Here, we report that Bach2 ablation on T cells, but not B cells, resulted in humoral autoimmunity, and this was associated with expansion of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells and abnormal germinal centers. Bach2 was down-regulated in Tfh cells and directly suppressed by the Tfh-defining transcription factor BCL6. Mechanistically, Bach2 directly suppresses the transcription of Cxcr5 and c-Maf, two key regulators of Tfh cell differentiation. Bach2-deficient Tfh cells were skewed toward the IL-4-producing subset, which induced IgG1 and IgE isotype switching of B cells. Heterozygous Bcl6 deficiency reduced the formation of germinal center and autoantibodies, and ameliorated the pathology in Bach2-deficient mice. Our findings identify Bach2 as a crucial negative regulator of Tfh cells at steady state and prove that Bach2 controls autoimmunity in part by restraining accumulation of pathogenic Tfh cells.
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