Interleukin-2 Inhibits Germinal Center Formation by Limiting T Follicular Helper Cell Differentiation

SummaryT follicular helper (Tfh) cells promote T cell-dependent humoral immune responses by providing T cell help to B cells and by promoting germinal center (GC) formation and long-lived antibody responses. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control Tfh cell differentiation in vivo are incompletely understood. Here we show that interleukin-2 (IL-2) administration impaired influenza-specific GCs, long-lived IgG responses, and Tfh cells. IL-2 did not directly inhibit GC formation, but instead suppressed the differentiation of Tfh cells, thereby hindering the maintenance of influenza-specific GC B cells. Our data demonstrate that IL-2 is a critical factor that regulates successful Tfh and B cell responses in vivo and regulates Tfh cell development.

► IL-2 inhibits Tfh cell differentiation
► IL-2 blocks germinal center formation by suppressing Tfh cell differentiation
► IL-2 suppresses the differentiation of long-lived plasma cells
► IL-2 blocks Tfh cell differentiation independently of its effects on Treg cells