ObjectiveThis study aims to elucidate the role of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells and their subsets in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN).MethodsThe frequencies of Tfh cell subsets and B cell subsets in peripheral blood (PB) were detected in both IMN patients and healthy controls (HCs). The involvement of Tfh cells in the disease pathogenesis was examined by coculturing human Tfh cells with B cells. The dynamic changes of Tfh cells in PB or spleen were monitored in passive Heymann nephritis (PHN) rats.ResultsThe frequencies of circulating Tfh (cTfh) cells, cTfh2 cells, and plasmablasts were enriched in the PB of patients with IMN. cTfh cells expressed higher ICOS, and lower BTLA than healthy counterparts. The frequency of ICOS + cTfh2 was associated with the severity of IMN, including 24h urine protein, IgG4 concentration and the IgG4: IgG ratio. Positive correlations were also observed between the frequency of cTfh2 cells with plasmablasts, serum IL-21 and IL-4 levels. Importantly, cTfh cells isolated from IMN patients were able to induce the differentiation of B cells to memory B cells (MBC) and plasmablasts, this process could be substantially attenuated by blocking the IL-21. Similar increases of ICOS + cTfh cells were also detected in spleen of PHN rats, concomitant with elevated urine protein levels.ConclusionsCollectively, our results demonstrate that the imbalance of cTfh cell subsets play a crucial pathogenic role in IMN by inducing the differentiation of B cells through IL-21, and cTfh2 cells might serve as useful markers to evaluate the progression of IMN.
基金：
State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine
第一作者机构：[1]Guangzhou Univ Chinese Med, Clin Coll 2, Dept Lab Med, Guangzhou, Peoples R China
通讯作者：
通讯机构：[1]Guangzhou Univ Chinese Med, Clin Coll 2, Dept Lab Med, Guangzhou, Peoples R China[2]Guangzhou Univ Chinese Med, Affiliated Hosp 2, State Key Lab Dampness Syndrome Chinese Med, Guangzhou, Peoples R China[3]Guangzhou Univ Chinese Med, Affiliated Hosp 2, Dept Nephrol, Guangzhou, Peoples R China
推荐引用方式(GB/T 7714)：
Deng Bishun,Huang Huijie,Deng Li,et al.Imbalance of T follicular helper cell subsets trigger the differentiation of pathogenic B cells in idiopathic membranous nephropathy[J].INFLAMMATION RESEARCH.2024,doi:10.1007/s00011-023-01838-5.
APA：
Deng, Bishun,Huang, Huijie,Deng, Li,Zhao, Ziling,Liu, Miao...&He, Min.(2024).Imbalance of T follicular helper cell subsets trigger the differentiation of pathogenic B cells in idiopathic membranous nephropathy.INFLAMMATION RESEARCH,,
MLA：
Deng, Bishun,et al."Imbalance of T follicular helper cell subsets trigger the differentiation of pathogenic B cells in idiopathic membranous nephropathy".INFLAMMATION RESEARCH .(2024)
