类风湿性关节炎中外周T辅助细胞免疫特征分析

目的探讨外周T辅助细胞(peripheral helper T cell,Tph)在类风湿性关节炎(rheumatoid arthritis,RA)患者中的免疫特征。方法分离RA患者外周血(peripheral blood,PB)和关节积液(synovial fluid,SF)中的淋巴细胞,利用CXCR5和PD-1hi的表达鉴别出Tph细胞亚群,利用MHCⅡ和ICOS的表达来表示T淋巴细胞的活化状态及免疫特性,将RA患者外周血和关节积液中的Tph细胞亚群的免疫特性进行互相比较,同时与健康人外周血中的Tph进行比较。结果在RA外周血及关节积液中Tph比例相较于健康对照显著升高,表达MHCⅡ的Tph比例升高,表达ICOS的Tph比例升高,且关节积液中Tph的ICOS表达显著高于RA患者外周血中的Tph。结论RA患者的Tph显著活化,其免疫特性与健康人有较大区别,并且在RA患者关节积液中存在大量的Tph,这种T细胞亚群可能是类风湿关节炎致病基础之一。

Analysis of the role of peripheral T helper cells in rheumatoid arthritis

This study was designed to explore the immune characteristics of Tph cells in RA patients.Flow cytometry was used to detect the percentage of Tph in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)and synovial fluid mononuclear cells(SFMCs),and then the expression of activation markers MHC-Ⅱand ICOS in Tph cells were detected.Finally,we analyzed the correlation between Tph frequency and different clinical indicators of rheumatoid arthritis.Data showed that the percentage of activated Tph cells in the peripheral blood and synovial fluid of RA patients were significantly increased,and ICOS+Tph was positively correlated with the inflammatory targets of the disease.In conclusion,activated Tph cells can be used as a disease marker,and has important application value in the prognosis and treatment of rheumatoid diseases.Further study of Tph is necessary for understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of autoimmune disease.