Antigen-specific B cells direct T follicular-like helper cells into lymphoid follicles to mediate Mycobacterium tuberculosis control

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb ), is a global cause of death. Granuloma-associated lymphoid tissue (GrALT) correlates with protection during TB, but the mechanisms of protection are not understood. During TB, the transcription factor IRF4 in T cells but not B cells is required for the generation of the T H 1 and T H 17 subsets of helper T cells and follicular helper T (T FH )-like cellular responses. A population of IRF4 + T cells coexpress the transcription factor BCL6 during Mtb infection, and deletion of Bcl6 ( Bcl6 fl/fl ) in CD4 + T cells (CD4 cre ) resulted in reduction of T FH -like cells, impaired localization within GrALT and increased Mtb burden. In contrast, the absence of germinal center B cells, MHC class II expression on B cells, antibody-producing plasma cells or interleukin-10-expressing B cells, did not increase Mtb susceptibility. Indeed, antigen-specific B cells enhance cytokine production and strategically localize T FH -like cells within GrALT via interactions between programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1 and mediate Mtb control in both mice and macaques. Khader and colleagues show Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb )-specific B cells are needed to recruit T FH cells into follicular-like structures within lung granulomas to control the Mtb bacilli; however, specific antibodies and many conventional properties of B cells are dispensable.