title: CD4+CXCR5+ follicular helper T cells in salivary gland promote B cells maturation in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine amount of CD4+CXCR5+Tfh cells and B cells subsets in salivary gland and peripheral blood from patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) and to analyze whether the frequency of CD4+CXCR5+Tfh cells is associated with pSS pathologic process.
  
  
  METHODS
  The percentages of CD4+CXCR5+Tfh cells and B cell subsets were examined by flow cytometry. B-lymphocyte chemoattraetant (BLC; also called CXCL13), IL-21, IL-6 from the serum of pSS patients was assessed by polymerase chain reaction-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentages of CD4+CXCR5+Tfh cells in peripheral blood were increased in pSS patients, but decreased after treatment with glucocorticoid and/or immunosuppressive drugs. Abnormal B cell subsets appeared in salivary and peripheral blood of pSS patients. The frequency of salivary CD4+CXCR5+Tfh cells was positively correlated with CD19+CD27+ memory B cells and CD19+CD27high plasma cells. Also increase of salivary CD19+CD27high plasma cells was positively associated with serum ANA titer of pSS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CD4+CXCR5+Tfh cells are significantly increased in salivary and peripheral blood in pSS patients with aberrant CD19+CD27+ memory B cells and CD19+CD27high plasma cells, suggesting that CD4+CXCR5+Tfh cells may contribute to the pathogenesis of pSS by promoting the maturation of B cells.
authors: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Anhui Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University Hefei, Anhui 230001, China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Jin
authors: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Anhui Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University Hefei, Anhui 230001, China.
authors: Daliang
authors: D
authors: Yu
authors: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Anhui Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University Hefei, Anhui 230001, China.
authors: Xiaomei
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Anhui Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University Hefei, Anhui 230001, China.
authors: Ning
authors: N
authors: Yu
authors: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Anhui Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University Hefei, Anhui 230001, China.
authors: Xiangpei
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Centre for Kidney Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, The University of Sydney NSW 2145, Australia.
authors: Yuanmin
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Centres for Transplantation and Renal Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, The University of Sydney NSW 2145, Australia.
authors: Yiping
authors: Y
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018941:Antigens, CD19 / Q000097:blood; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5 / Q000097:blood*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D018941:Antigens, CD19; D015415:Biomarkers; C095085:CXCR5 protein, human; D016207:Cytokines; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7
keywords: B cell; Sjogren’s syndrome; follicular helper T cell; germinal center