A higher frequency of CD4 super(+) CXCR5 super(+) T follicular helper cells in patients with newly diagnosed Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis

• Published in: International immunopharmacology 2016-03, Vol.32, p.8-15
• Main Authors: Zhang, Zhihui, Zhao, Songchen, Zhang, Li, Crew, Rebecca, Zhang, Nan, Sun, Xiguang, Jiang, Yanfang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1567-5769
• DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2015.12.037

T follicular helper (TFH) cells play an important role in the humoral immune responses. The aim of this study was to examine the frequency of different subsets of CD4 super(+) CXCR5 super(+) TFH cells and B cells in patients with new-onset Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN). The numbers of different subsets of CD4 super(+) CXCR5 super(+) TFH cells, B cells and the constituents of serum cytokines were detected in a total of 25 patients with newly diagnosed HSPN before and after treatment, and in 14 healthy controls (HC). The potential connection of these cells with the clinical characteristics in HSPN patients was analyzed. The numbers of circulating CD4 super(+) CXCR5 super(+), CD4 super(+) CXCR5 super(+) ICOS super(+) and CD4 super(+) CXCR5 super(+) PD-1 super(+) TFH cells, CD86 super(+) CD19 super(+), CD38 super(+) CD19 super(+) B cells and serum IL-2, IL-4, IL-17A, IL-21 and IFN- gamma were significantly higher in HSPN patients (p < 0.05) than in HC. Before and after treatment the numbers of CD4 super(+) CXCR5 super(+) TFH cells were negatively correlated with the values of eGFR (r = - 0.7162, p < 0.05; r = - 0.732, p < 0.05, respectively). Similarly the numbers of CD4 super(+) CXCR5 super(+) PD-1 super(+) TFH cells were negatively correlated with 24-h urinary proteins (r = - 0.4013, p < 0.05; r = - 0.7857, p < 0.05, respectively), and the numbers of CD4 super(+) CXCR5 super(+) ICOS super(+) TFH cells were positively correlated with the levels of serum IL-21 (r = 0.5186, p < 0.05; r = 0.8503, p < 0.05, respectively) and 24-h urinary protein (r = 0.6045, p < 0.05; r = 0.833, p < 0.05, respectively) in these patients, regardless of treatment. Following treatment the numbers of CD4 super(+) CXCR5 super(+), CD4 super(+) CXCR5 super(+) PD-1 super(+), and CD4 super(+) CXCR5 super(+) ICOS super(+) TFH cells, as well as serum levels of IL-21 were significantly reduced, however IL-4 levels were noticeably increased (p < 0.05). A higher frequency of circulating CD4 super(+) CXCR5 super(+) TFH cells existed in patients with HSPN and may be a viable therapeutic target.