[Roles of follicular helper T cells and follicular regulatory T cells in pathogenesis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura in children].
OBJECTIVE
To study the roles of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells in the pathogenesis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) in children.


METHODS
Peripheral blood samples were collected from 40 HSP children and 25 healthy controls. The percentages of Tfh and Tfr cells were measured by flow cytometry; the mRNA expression levels of Bcl-6, c-MAF, Blimp-1, and PD-1 in peripheral blood were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Compared with the controls, the children with HSP had significantly increased percentage of Tfh cells and Tfh/Tfr ratio but a significantly reduced percentage of Tfr cells in the peripheral blood (P<0.05). Compared with the controls, the children with HSP had significantly increased mRNA expression of Bcl-6 and c-MAF but significantly reduced mRNA expression of Blimp-1 in CD4+ T cells (P<0.05), and had significantly increased mRNA expression of PD-1 but significantly reduced mRNA expression of Blimp-1 in CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormal percentages of Tfh and Tfr cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of HSP in children, and over-expression of Bcl-6, c-MAF, and PD-1 mRNA and inhibited expression of Blimp-1 mRNA may be considered as important reasons for abnormal percentages of Tfh and Tfr cells.
Department of Pediatrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China. meichun123@126.com.
Chun-Mei
CM
Wang
Yuan
Y
Luo
Ying-Chao
YC
Wang
Guang-Yao
GY
Sheng
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011695:IgA Vasculitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / Q000235:genetics; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; D051257:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-maf / Q000235:genetics; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
C084103:BCL6 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C495607:MAF protein, human; C105992:PDCD1 protein, human; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; D051257:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-maf