Continued Bcl6 expression prevents the transdifferentiation of established Tfh cells into Th1 cells during acute viral infection. Continued Bcl6 expression prevents the transdifferentiation of established Tfh cells into Th1 cells during acute viral infection

By using a temporally-controlled system for the ablation of Bcl6 and Cxcr5 speficially in CD4 T cells, the requirements of both factors for the maintenance of Tfh cells were investigated Overall design: Cd4-CreERT2+ mice without floxed alleles were used as controls in all experiments. Bcl6 ablation in SMARTA cells in LCMV infection: iBcl6KO (n=5), Ctrls (n=3) Cxcr5 ablation in SMARTA cells in LCMV infection: iCxcr5KO (Tfh: n=4, Th1: n=4), Ctels (Tfh: n=3; Th1: n=5) Cxcr5 ablation in NP-KLH immunization: iCxcr5KO (Tfh: n=6), Ctrls (Tfh: n=4; non-Tfh: n=4)