Dynamic regulation of T follicular regulatory cell responses by interleukin 2 during influenza infection

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) promotes Foxp(3+) regulatory T (T-reg) cell responses, but inhibits T follicular helper (T-FH) cell development. However, it is not clear how IL-2 affects T follicular regulatory (T-FR) cells, a cell type with properties of both T-reg and TFH cells. Using an influenza infection model, we found that high IL-2 concentrations at the peak of the infection prevented TFR cell development by a Blimp-1-dependent mechanism. However, once the immune response resolved, some T-reg cells downregulated CD25, upregulated Bcl-6 and differentiated into T-FR cells, which then migrated into the B cell follicles to prevent the expansion of self-reactive B cell clones. Thus, unlike its effects on conventional T-reg cells, IL-2 inhibits T-FR cell responses.