ClinicaI significance of T follicuLar helper cells in rheumatoid arthritis / 国际检验医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the percentages of T follicuLar helper cells (Tfh)and interleukin-21(IL-21)in the plasma of patients with rheumatoid arthritis,and the immunological mechanism of Tfh cells in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Methods According to ACR and DAS28,patients with rheumatoid arthritis were divided into low,moderate and high activity group.The percentages of CD3 + CD4 + CXCR+ 、CD3 + CD4 + ICOS+ and CD3 + CD4 + CXCR+ ICOS+ Tfh cells were detected by Flow Cytometry.While the levels of IL-21 、RF-IgM and anti-CCP in plasma were measured by ELlSA test.The analysis was performed by t-test and Spearman′s correlation analysis.Results The expression of CD3 + CD4 + CXCR+ ICOS+ Tfh cells in PBMCs of rheu-matoid arthritis was significantly higher than that in the normal controls(P <0.05).Meanwhile the results of the three rheumatoid arthritis groups(low,moderate and high activity groups)showed that the expression of Tfh increased accordingly(P <0.05).The expression of Tfh in rheumatoid arthritis was positively related with the levels of IL-21 ,ESR,CRP,RF and anti-CCP respectively. Conclusion The expression of Tfh and IL-21 increases significantly and is closely related to the disease activity in rheumatoid ar-thritis.The results indicate that the abnormality of Tfh may play an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.