title: Increased circulating CXCR5+CD4+T follicular helper-like cells in oral lichen planus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  CD4+T-helper cell is crucial for the inflammatory autoimmune condition of oral lichen planus (OLP). Recently, the pathogenetic functions of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, a subtype of CD4+T-helper cells, have been revealed in autoimmune diseases for their pivotal regulation on humoral immunity. To explore the potential pathophysiological role of Tfh cells in OLP, the expression of circulating Tfh-like cells and its correlations with IL-21 and B cells were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The frequencies of CXCR5+CD4+Tfh-like cells and CD19+B cells were analyzed in peripheral blood of patients with OLP and controls by flow cytometry, respectively. Besides, the serum IL-21 concentration was measured using ELISA technology. Furthermore, the correlations of CXCR5+CD4+Tfh-like cells with CD19+B cells and serum IL-21 expression levels were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study showed significant increased circulating Tfh-like cells (P < 0.05) and B cells (P < 0.0001), as well as decreased serum IL-21 expression (P < 0.001) in OLP. Besides, the frequency of Tfh-like cells exhibited negative correlation with B cells in OLP (r = -0.435, P < 0.05). In particular, the proportion of CXCR5+CD4+Tfh-like cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of erosive OLP was higher than non-erosive OLP and controls (P = 0.012 and 0.021, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased circulating Tfh-like cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of OLP through abnormal modulation on B-cell proliferation and IL-21 production, and associated with different clinical forms of OLP.
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Ya-Qin
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.|Department of Oral Medicine, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.|Department of Oral Medicine, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Ge-Fei
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.|Department of Oral Medicine, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.|Department of Oral Medicine, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C095085:CXCR5 protein, human; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5
keywords: B cells; T follicular helper-like cells; humoral immunity; interleukin-21; oral lichen planus