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Follicular helper T cells in rheumatoid arthritis

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Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation in the joints and other tissues. Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anticyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP) are biomarkers for the evaluation of RA although their functions in the pathogenesis of RA are poorly understood. CXC-chemokine receptor 5 (CXCR5)+ T follicular helper (TFH) cells are essential for B cell maturation and antibody production. Recent studies have showed that dysregulated TFH cells are associated with the development of autoimmune diseases. This article reviews the characters and functions of TFH cells, such as their differentiation, expression, transcription factor, and B cell maturation. Meanwhile, we also discuss the possible mechanisms underlying the role of these cells in RA and potential treatments, including antibody-blocking agents, gene therapies, T cell vaccines, and T follicular regulatory (TFR) cells. Overall, we discuss the roles of TFH cells in the pathogenesis of RA and potential therapies for RA.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Medjaden Bioscience Limited for the scientific editing of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Joint Research Center of the West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University and Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, the West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Meixing Yu & Hong Li

  2. Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA

    Meixing Yu & Vanesssa Cavero

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Hubei University for Nationalities, Enshi, Hubei, 445000, China

    Qiao Lu

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  1. Meixing Yu
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  2. Vanesssa Cavero
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  4. Hong Li
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Correspondence to Hong Li.

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Yu, M., Cavero, V., Lu, Q. et al. Follicular helper T cells in rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Rheumatol 34, 1489–1493 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-015-3028-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-015-3028-5

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