LAPCs promote follicular helper T cell differentiation of Ag-primed CD4(+) T cells during respiratory virus infection

The humoral immune response to most respiratory virus infections plays a prominent role in virus clearance and is essential for resistance to reinfection. T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are believed to support the development both of a potent primary antibody response and of the germinal center response critical for memory B cell development. Using a model of primary murine influenza A virus (IAV) infection, we demonstrate that a novel late activator antigen-presenting cell (LAPC) promotes the Tfh response in the draining lymph nodes (dLNs) of the IAV-infected lungs. LAPCs migrate from the infected lungs to the dLN “late,” i.e., 6 d after infection, which is concomitant with Tfh differentiation. LAPC migration is CXCR3-dependent, and LAPC triggering of Tfh cell development requires ICOS–ICOSL–dependent signaling. LAPCs appear to play a pivotal role in driving Tfh differentiation of Ag-primed CD4(+) T cells and antiviral antibody responses.