TFH memory: More or less TFH?

Follicular T-helper (TFH) cells are a subset of CD4+ T cells that is specialized to help B cells. Their capacity to give rise to enhanced TFH memory responses has not been documented. A study by Weber et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2012 42: 1981–1988] in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology addresses this question, and a picture is emerging from this and several other recent studies which suggests that the formation of memory TFH and of central memory (TCM) cells are intimately bound and that the heterogeneity of what we currently call “TFH’’ cells clouds this issue. In this Commentary, we discuss these complexities and ask what memory TFH cells are doing given that the germinal centers are a feature of primary, but not secondary immune responses.