ABSTRACT
Objective To study the change of the plasma concentrations of follicular helper T lymphocytes (TFH cells) related cytokines and receptors in children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) .Methods The plasma concentrations of TFH-cells-related cytokine IL-21 and CXCL13 ,and cell surface expression of TFH-related receptor CXCR5 and IL-21R on CD19+B cells in 22 SLE children and 20 sex-and age matched control subjects were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytome-try ,respectively .Results Plasma CXCL13 and IL-21 concentrations were significantly higher in SLE children than controls (all P0 .05) .Conclusion The elevat-ed production of CXCL13 and IL-21 may be associated with the function of TFH for the immunopathogenesis in SLE children .