Winslow Gary M, Levack Russell
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA.
Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Immunol Rev. 2025 Mar;330(1):e13440. doi: 10.1111/imr.13440.
Since their first description in 2008, T-bet+ B cells have emerged as a clinically important B cell subset. Now commonly known as ABCs (Age-associated B Cells), they are uniquely characterized by their expression of the transcription factor T-bet. Indeed, this singular factor defines this B cell subset. This review will describe the discovery of T-bet+ B cells, their role in bacterial infection as T cell-independent (TI) plasmablasts, as well as long-term follicular helper T cell-dependent (TD) IgM+ and switched memory cells (i.e., T-bet+ ABCs), and later discoveries of their role(s) in diverse immunological responses. These studies highlight a critical, although limited, role of T-bet in IgG2a class switching, a function central to the cells' role in immunity and autoimmunity. Given their association with autoimmunity, pharmacological targeting is an attractive strategy for reducing or eliminating the B cells. T-bet+ ABCs express a number of characteristic cell surface markers, including CD11c, CD11b, CD73, and the adenosine 2a receptor (A2aR). Accordingly, A2aR agonist administration effectively targeted T-bet+ ABCs in vivo. Moreover, agonist treatment of lupus-prone mice reduced autoantibodies and disease symptoms. This latter work highlights the potential therapeutic use of adenosine agonists for treating autoimmune diseases involving T-bet+ ABCs.
Immunol Rev. 2025-3
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019-8-26
Cell Immunol. 2017-11
Immunol Rev. 2019-3
Cell Immunol. 2017-11
Front Immunol. 2025-3-4