Aberrant frequency of circulating IL-21+ T follicular helper cells in patients with primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

• Published in: Molecular immunology 2024-12, Vol.176, p.30-36
• Main Authors: Liu, Jing, Wang, Yanbo, Qu, Zhihui, Si, Junzhuo, Jiang, Yanfang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; blood serum; etiology; Female; Flow Cytometry; Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis; Follicular helper T cells; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental - blood; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental - immunology; Humans; IL-21; interleukin-21; Interleukins - blood; Interleukins - immunology; Male; Middle Aged; pathogenesis; pathophysiology; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor - blood; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor - immunology; serum albumin; T Follicular Helper Cells - immunology; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - immunology; urine; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0161-5890; 1872-9142; 1872-9142
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2024.11.001

Follicular helper T (Tfh) cells have been implicated in the pathophysiology of numerous diseases. This study investigated the hypothetical function of peripheral blood IL-21+ Tfh cells in the etiology of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Tfh cell subsets were identified via flow cytometry in PBMCs from 15 patients with FSGS and 9 healthy controls (HCs). Moreover, a cytometric bead array (CBA) was used to determine the level of IL-21 in the serum. The proportions of IL-21+ cTfh cells, IL-21+ PD-1+ cTfh cells and serum IL-21 were lower in FSGS patients than in HCs. In FSGS patients, the serum IL-21 concentration was positively correlated with the frequency of IL-21+ cTfh cells and IL-21+ PD-1+ cTfh cells. The frequencies of IL-21+ cTfh cells and IL-21+ PD-1+ cTfh cells were negatively associated with 24-h urine protein but positively correlated with eGFR, serum albumin and serum IgG. An aberrant frequency of IL-21+ Tfh cells was detected in FSGS patients, which may provide a better understanding of FSGS pathogenesis. •The percentage of IL-21+ cTfh cells was reduced in FSGS patients.•In comparison to controls, the concentrations of serum IL-21 were remarkably diminished in FSGS patients.•An aberrant frequency of IL-21+ Tfh cells may provide a better understanding of FSGS pathogenesis.