title: Changes in circulating follicular helper T-cells in Chinese patients with allergic rhinitis.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Changes of circulating Follicular helper T (cTfh) cells existed in allergic rhinitis (AR) patients, and the severity of disease was associated with a more severe change of cTfh milieu. These results imply that cTfh cells may play a crucial role in the pathology of AR in Chinese patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in cTfh cells in Chinese AR patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two patients were studied (32 in the AR group and 20 in the control group) for this research. The cTfh cell frequency and mRNA levels of transcription factor Bcl-6, B lymphocyte induced maturation protein 1 (BLIMP-1), and related cytokine IL-21 (IL-21 protein was also measured) were analyzed. Clinical severity was evaluated by total serum IgE levels, visual analog scale scores (VAS), and rhino-conjunctivitis quality-of-life questionnaires (RQLQ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of cTfh cells were elevated in AR groups vs healthy controls (p < 0.05). Levels of IL-21 mRNA, Bcl-6 mRNA and the level of IL-21 protein were also significantly higher in the AR groups (p < 0.05), whereas BLIMP-1 mRNA was decreased (p < 0.05). Furthermore, positive correlations were identified between the frequency of cTfh cells and indicators of clinical severity (p < 0.01).
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University , Chongqing , PR China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Qiang
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University , Chongqing , PR China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University , Chongqing , PR China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University , Chongqing , PR China.
authors.forename: Hou-Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University , Chongqing , PR China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University , Chongqing , PR China.
authors.forename: Guo-hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University , Chongqing , PR China.
authors.forename: Su-Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D000074462:Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: C084103:BCL6 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007378:Interleukins; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C087042:PRDM1 protein, human; D000074462:Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1; D000098546:Interleukin-21
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; IgE; circulating Tfh cells; clinical severity