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Follicular Helper T Cells and Follicular Regulatory T Cells Involved in Immune Disorders of Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy

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Indian Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the role of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells in immune disorders of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN).

Methods

Peripheral blood samples of 41 IMN patients and 30 healthy controls were collected. The percentages of B cells, Tfh cells and Tfr cells were determined by flow cytometry, and the concentrations of IL-6, IL-17A, and IL-21 were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, sorted Tfh cells or Tfr cells were co-cultured with B cells in vitro to detect the cell function.

Results

B cells, Tfh cells, Tfr cells, Tfr / Tfh ratio, IL-6, IL-17A, and IL-21 were significantly higher in IMN patients compared to controls. IMN patients had reduced percentages of CTLA-4+Tfr cells, increased percentages of PD-1+Tfr cells, and reduced CTLA-4+Tfr / PD-1+Tfr. In the co-culture system, IgG4, lactic acid, IL-6, IL-17A, and IL-21 were higher in Tfh cells derived from IMN patients, while IgG4, lactic acid, IL-6, IL-17A, and IL-21 were lower in Tfr cells derived from healthy patients.

Conclusions

Tfh cells and Tfr cells are involved in immune disorders in IMN. This may be associated with abnormal expression of CTLA-4 and PD-1.

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Funding

This work was supported by the funding of Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (2020D01C127).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, China

    Lin Xu & Dilreba Tayier

  2. Department of Nephrology, People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, 830001, China

    Shufen Yang & Xueqin Zhang

  3. Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830011, China

    Chen Lu

Authors
  1. Lin Xu
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  2. Dilreba Tayier
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  3. Shufen Yang
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  4. Xueqin Zhang
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  5. Chen Lu
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Contributions

LX contributed to the conception and design of the review study and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. DT cultured cells. SY collected samples and performed flow cytometry assay. XZ collected samples and ELISA and PCR assays. CL discussed and revised the content of the review article. All authors contributed to manuscript revision, read and approved the submitted version. CL will act as guarantor for this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Chen Lu.

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Xu, L., Tayier, D., Yang, S. et al. Follicular Helper T Cells and Follicular Regulatory T Cells Involved in Immune Disorders of Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy. Indian J Pediatr (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-023-04815-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-023-04815-2

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