Università della Svizzera italiana

P2X7 receptor restrains pathogenic Tfh cell generation in systemic lupus erythematosus

Faliti, Caterina E. ; Gualtierotti, Roberta ; Rottoli, Elsa ; Gerosa, Maria ; Perruzza, Lisa ; Romagnani, Andrea ; Pellegrini, Giovanni ; De Ponte Conti, Benedetta ; Rossi, Riccardo L. ; Idzko, Marco ; Mazza, Emilia M.C. ; Bicciato, Silvio ; Traggiai, Elisabetta ; Meroni, Pier Luigi ; Grassi, Fabio

In: Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2019, vol. 216, no. 2, p. 317-336

Altered control of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells can lead to generation of autoantibodies and autoimmune manifestations. Signaling pathways that selectively limit pathogenic responses without affecting the protective function of Tfh cells are unknown. Here we show that the ATP-gated ionotropic P2X7 receptor restricts the expansion of aberrant Tfh cells and the generation of self-reactive...