Role of follicular helper T cells in development and progression of liver diseases / 临床肝胆病杂志

ABSTRACT

Follicular helper T cell (TFH) is a new CD4+ T lymphocyte subset which helps B lymphocytes to produce antibodies and is closely related to the development and progression of liver diseases. This article reviews the detection and differentiation of TFH and related functional molecules, the mechanism of action of TFH in helping B lymphocytes to produce antibodies through producing interleukin-21, as well as the role of TFH in liver diseases such as chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, hepatic failure, and liver transplantation, and points out that TFH may become the new target cell in the treatment of liver diseases.