CXCR5 + CD8 + T cells: A Review of their Antibody Regulatory Functions and Clinical Correlations.

CD8 ⁺ T cells have conventionally been studied in relationship to pathogen or tumor clearance. Recent reports have identified novel functions of CXCR5 ⁺ CD8 ⁺ T cells that can home to lymphoid follicles, a key site of antibody production. In this review we provide an in-depth analysis of conflicting reports regarding the impact of CXCR5 ⁺ CD8 ⁺ T cells on antibody production and examine the data supporting a role for antibody-enhancement (B cell "helper") and antibody-downregulation (antibody-suppressor) by CXCR5 ⁺ CD8 ⁺ T cell subsets. CXCR5 ⁺ CD8 ⁺ T cell molecular phenotypes are associated with CD8-mediated effector functions including distinct subsets that regulate antibody responses. Co-inhibitory molecule PD-1, among others, distinguish CXCR5 ⁺ CD8 ⁺ T cell subsets. We also provide the first in-depth review of human CXCR5 ⁺ CD8 ⁺ T cells in the context of clinical outcomes and discuss the potential utility of monitoring the quantity of peripheral blood or tissue infiltrating CXCR5 ⁺ CD8 ⁺ T cells as a prognostic tool in multiple disease states.
Competing Interests: Disclosure: The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.