[Sex bias in generation and functional phenotypes of peripheral T follicular helper cells in schistosomiasis japonica].

OBJECTIVE

To study the influence of sex on the generation and function of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in the process of Schistosoma japonicum infection.

METHODS

Totally 50 schistosomiasis patients were selected in the endemic areas of Chizhou City, Anhui Province, and totally 50 healthy people were selected in the non-endemic areas of Chizhou City as the controls. The peripheral bloods were collected from the above study subjects, and the human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from male/female schistosomiasis japonica patients or healthy controls were collected into the sodium heparin tubes and purified by Ficoll-paque plus density gradient centrifugation. Then, the percentages of total Tfh cell, ICOS+ Tfh cells, and PD-1+ Tfh cells in the schistosomiasis male/female patients or healthy controls were evaluated by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Compared with the male and female healthy controls, the frequency of the total Tfh cells (Umale = 149.0, Ufemale = 39.5, both P < 0.01), the percentages of PD-1+ Tfh cells (tmale = 5.9, tfemale = 7.7, both P < 0.01) and ICOS+ Tfh cells (tmale = 3.2, tfemale = 5.9, both P < 0.01) of the male and female patients with schistosomiasis increased, all the differences were statistically significant. The further analysis showed that the percentage of total Tfh cells (U = 187.5, P < 0.05), ICOS+ Tfh cells (t = 3.2, P < 0.05), and PD-1+ Tfh cells (t = 3.0, P < 0.05) of the female patients were markedly higher than those of the male patients, all the differences were also statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Sex may be a crucial role in the generation and function of Tfh cells in the process of Schistosoma japonicum infection.