| Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the role of Tfh cells and B cells by examining the levels of c Tfh cells and B cells in the peri pheral blood of patients with ankylosing spondylitis(AS) and healthy controlsa nd analyzing the correlation among these factors. Methods: AS patients who c ome from the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou medical unniversity were collecte d(n=65). The classification of all AS patients were consistent with New Yor k criteria modified in 1984.The patients with AS were devided into high acti-v ity group(n=41) and low activity group(n=24) by the BASDAI. Another 20 c-a ses of health controls from Health Examination Center of the Affiliated Hospit al of Guizhou medical unniversity were collected.The levels of circulating Tfh cells,surface molecules(PD-1,ICOS), intracellular cytokine(IL-21)and B cell sub-t ypes was detected by flow cytometry in AS patients and HC. The expression difference of each factors among groups were compared and the correlations among those facors were analyzed. Results:(1) In comparison with those in H C, si-gnificantly increased percentages of CD4+CXCR5+c Tfh, CD4+CXCR5+PD-1+, CD4+CXCR5+ICOS+,CD4+CXCR5+ICOS+PD-1+T cell were detected in the peripheral blood of patiens with AS(23.45%±8.82%vs15.58%±4.49%, P<0.01;10.96%±7.96%vs6.40%±2.35%, P<0.01; 16.03%±11.03%vs9.43%±4.54%, P<0.01; 4.66%±3.61%vs1.69%±1.30%, P<0.01),but significantly decreased Percentages of CD4+T cells in lymphocytes(30.73%±8.01%vs35.91%±5.35%, P<0.01). Compared to low activity AS group and HC, the percentages of CD4+CXCR5+c Tfh cells in high activity AS group were increased significantly(26.03%±9.10%vs19.04%±6.34%, P<0.01; 26.03%±9.10%vs15.58%±4.49%, P<0.01).(2) Significantly increased percentage of CD3+CD8-CXCR5+IL-21+T cells w ere det-ected in AS patients compared to that in HC(1.57%±1.52%vs0.50%±0.24%, P<0.01), and the percentage of CD3+CD8-CXCR5+IL-21+T cells in high activity AS group were significantly higher than low activity AS group an-d H C(2.19%±1.63%vs0.6%±0.5%, P<0.01; 2.19%±1.63%%vs0.50%±0.24%, P<0.01).(3) In comparison with those in HC, significantly increased percentage of CD19+CD38+antibody-secreting B cells were detected in AS patients(81.33%±10.87%vs68.22%±12.98%, P<0.01). Significantly higher percentages of CD19+C D27- na?ve B cells and CD19+CD38+antibody-secreting B cells(84.60%±8.72%v s78.30%±11.52%, P<0.05;84.32%±9.67%vs76.21%±11.09%, P<0.01), but lo wer CD19+CD27+ memory B cells(13.34%±8.05%vs19.49%±11.61%, P<0.05)weredetected in high activity AS group compared to low activity AS gro-up.(4) the percentages of CD4+CXCR5+c Tfh, CD3+CD8-CXCR5+IL-21+T,and CD19+CD38+antibody-secreting B cells were positively correlated with Bath ASDiseas e Activity Index(BASDAI) values, respectively(r=0.332, P=0.007; r=0.445, P=0.001; r=0.324, P=0.009).(5) the percentages of CD4+CXCR5+c Tfh cells were c orrelated positively with the frequency of CD19+CD38+antibody-secreting B cell s in AS patients(r=0.38, P=0.002). the percentages of CD3+CD8-CXCR5+IL-21+T cells were also correlated positively with the frequency of CD19+CD27-na?ve B cells(r=0.321, P=0.034).Conclusion:(1) Higher percentages of c Tfh cel lsand up-regulation of surface molecules(PD-1, ICOS) and intracellular cytokin e(IL-21) in AS patients, and the levels of CD4+CXCR5+c Tfh and CD3+CD8-CX CR5+IL-21+T cells are expected to become the evaluation index of disease acti vity.(2) Aberrant distribution of B cell subtypes appeared in the peripheral blo od of AS patients, and the levels of CD19+CD38+antibody-secreting B cells are expected to become the evaluation index of disease activity.(3) c Tfhcells may i nteract with B cells, they participate in the pathogenesis of AS together. |
PDF Full Text Request