The ratio of circulating follicular T helper cell to follicular T regulatory cell is correlated with disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus

• Published in: Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) Vol. 183; pp. 46 - 53
• Main Authors: Xu, Bihua, Wang, Shuang, Zhou, Mianjing, Huang, Yuefang, Fu, Rong, Guo, Chaohuan, Chen, Jingxian, Zhao, Jijun, Gaskin, Felicia, Fu, Shu Man, Yang, Niansheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2017
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies, Antinuclear - immunology; Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use; Biomarker; Case-Control Studies; Cyclophosphamide - therapeutic use; DNA - immunology; Female; Glucocorticoids - therapeutic use; Humans; Hydroxychloroquine - therapeutic use; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - drug therapy; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - immunology; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - physiopathology; Lymphocyte Count; Lymphoid Tissue - cytology; Male; Severity of Illness Index; SLE; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - cytology; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - immunology; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - cytology; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - immunology; Tfh; Tfr; Young Adult; Tfr; Biomarker; SLE; Tfh
• ISSN: 1521-6616; 1521-7035; 1521-7035
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2017.07.004

Follicular T regulatory (Tfr) cells inhibit follicular T helper (Tfh) cells mediated B cell responses. Tfh cells are involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the role of Tfr cells in SLE remains unclear. The frequency of circulating Tfr and Tfh cells were examined in SLE patients and healthy controls. The frequency of circulating Tfr cell decreased and Tfh/Tfr ratio increased in SLE patients. Serum anti-dsDNA antibody level positively correlated with frequency of Tfh cells and Tfh/Tfr ratios but negatively correlated with the frequency of Tfr cells. Moreover, the frequency of Tfr and Tfh/Tfr ratio but not that of Tfh was correlated with diseases activity. In addition, increase in Tfr cell numbers and decrease in the Tfh/Tfr ratios were observed with successful treatments. Thus, Tfr cells should be considered as a biomarker for SLE and their role in the pathogenesis of SLE warrants further investigation. •The frequency of circulating Tfr cells decreased and Tfh/Tfr ratio increased in SLE patients.•Increased active subpopulation was found in Tfh and Tfr cells of SLE.•The frequency of Tfr and Tfh/Tfr ratio but not that of Tfh was correlated with diseases activity.•Increase in Tfr cell numbers and decrease in the Tfh/Tfr ratios were observed with successful treatments.