Tfh and plasma cells are correlated with hypergammaglobulinaemia in patients with autoimmune hepatitis.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed at examining the numbers of different subsets of circulating Tfh and B cells in patients with new onset autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).

METHODS

A total of 17 patients with new onset AIH and 17 age-/gender-matched healthy controls (HC) were examined for the numbers of ICOS(+) , PD-1(+) and IL-21(+) Tfh cells, CD27(+) , CD38(+) , CD95(+) , CD86(+) and IL-10(+) B cells were quantified by flow cytometry. The concentrations of serum IL-21 and IL-10 were examined.

RESULTS

In comparison with that in the HC, significantly increased numbers of circulating CD38(+) , CD86(+) or CD95(+) B cells, ICOS(+) and PD-1(+) Tfh cells and increased levels of serum IL-21, but reduced numbers of CD27(+) , IL-10(+) B cells were detected in the patients. The concentrations of serum IL-21 and IL-10 were positively correlated with the numbers of CD4(+) CXCR5(+) TFH and CD19(+) CD5(+) CD1d(+) B cells respectively. The numbers of ICOS(+) or PD-1(+) Tfh cells were correlated positively with CD86(+) or CD95(+) B cells in those patients respectively. The numbers of CD38(+) B cells, ICOS(+) or PD-1(+) Tfh cells were correlated positively with the concentrations of serum IgG or IgM in the patients respectively; the concentrations of serum IL-21 were correlated positively with serum IgG, IgA and IgM and the concentrations of serum IL-10 were correlated negatively with serum IgG and IgM in the patients.

CONCLUSION

Circulating activated Tfh and plasma cells may be associated with hypergammaglobulinaemia during the pathogenic process of AIH in humans.