T-bet-expressing B cells during HIV and HCV infections

T-bet-expressing B cells, first identified as perpetuators of autoimmunity, were recently shown to be critical for murine antiviral responses. While their role in human viral infections remains unclear, B cells expressing T-bet or demonstrating a related phenotype have been described in individuals chronically infected with HIV or HCV, suggesting these cells represent a component of human antiviral responses. In this review, we discuss the induction of T-bet in B cells following both HIV and HCV infections, the factors driving T-bet(+) B cell expansions, Tbet's relationship to atypical memory B cells, and the consequences of T-bet induction. We propose potential antiviral roles for T-bet(+) B cells and discuss whether this population poses any utility to the HIV and HCV immune responses.