title: Circulating Memory T Follicular Helper Cells in Patients with Neuromyelitis Optica/Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to examine the potential role of memory T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in patients with neuromyelitis optica/neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMO/NMOSD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The percentages of different subsets of circulating memory Tfh cells in 25 NMO/NMOSD patients before and after treatment as well as in 17 healthy controls were examined by flow cytometry. The levels of IL-21 and AQP4 Ab in plasma and CSF were measured by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentages and numbers of circulating memory Tfh cells, ICOS(+), CCR7(-), CCR7(-)ICOS(+), CCR7(+), CCR7(+)ICOS(+) memory Tfh cells, and the levels of IL-21 in plasma and CSF were significantly increased in NMO/NMOSD patients. The percentages of CCR7(-) and CCR7(-)ICOS(+) memory Tfh cells were positively correlated with ARR, plasma IL-21, and AQP4 Ab levels. The percentages of CCR7(+) and CCR7(+)ICOS(+) memory Tfh cells were positively correlated with CSF white blood cell counts, proteins, and IL-21 levels. Treatment with corticosteroids significantly reduced the numbers of CCR7(-)ICOS(+) and CCR7(+)ICOS(+) memory Tfh cells as well as plasma IL-21 levels in patients with partial remission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that circulating memory Tfh cells may participate in the relapse and development of NMO/NMOSD and may serve as a new therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China.
authors.forename: Xueli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Genetic Diagnosis Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China; Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou 225000, China.
authors.forename: Yanfang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China.
authors.forename: Jinming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China.
authors.forename: Jingyao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Hospital of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin 150000, China.
authors.forename: Yafen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China.
authors.forename: Xinmei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7028-3419
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D060889:Inducible T-Cell Co-Stimulator Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D054400:Receptors, CCR7 / Q000378:metabolism; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D051401:Aquaporin 4; C515370:CCR7 protein, human; C556692:ICOS protein, human; D060889:Inducible T-Cell Co-Stimulator Protein; D007378:Interleukins; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; D000098546:Interleukin-21