ICOS deficiency is associated with a severe reduction of CXCR5+ CD4 germinal center Th cells

ICOS is expressed on activated T cells and particularly on CXCR5(+) follicular Th cells in germinal centers (GC). Its deletion leads to a profound deficiency in memory B cell formation and switched Ab response in humans. Here, we show that in ICOS-deficient patients the generation of GCs is severely disturbed, and the numbers of circulating CXCR5(+)CD45RO(+) memory CD4 T cells are significantly reduced, indicating an essential role of ICOS in the differentiation of CXCR5(+)CD4 T cells. The GC-specific CD57(+)CXCR5(+) subpopulation is virtually absent. In ICOS-/- mice, the decrease of circulating CXCR5(+)CD4 T cells reflects the reduction of CXCR5' follicular Th cells in lymph nodes and spleen. Therefore, in concurrence with the absence of CXCR5' T cells in the blood of CD40L-deficient patients, these data support the hypothesis that circulating CD57(+)CXCR5(+) T cells are GC derived and thus may serve as a surrogate marker for the presence of functional GCs in humans.