Objective: To detect cell frequency and surface markers of peripheral blood CD4⁺;CXCR5⁺;follicular helper T cells (Tfh cells) and analyze the correlation between CD4⁺;CXCR5⁺;Tfh cells and hyperglobulinemia of patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Methods: We collected blood samples of 20 HBV infected patients with hyperglobulinemia, 10 chronic HBV infected patients and 10 health volunteers and isolated plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The percentage of CD4⁺;CXCR5⁺;Tfh cells and the expressions of PD-1, ICOS and CD40L on CD4⁺;CXCR5⁺;Tfh cells were detected by flow cytometry. The levels of CXCL13, IFN-γ and IL-21 in plasma were measured by ELISA.
Results: Compared with the percentage of CD4⁺;CXCR5⁺;Tfh cells in chronic HBV infected patients (11.9 ± 3.9) and health controls (6.8 ± 3.9), it was higher in HBV infected patients with hyperglobulinemia (22.6 ± 4.7, P<0.05). And in the hyperglobulinemia patients, the expressions of PD-1 and CD40L on CD4⁺;CXCR5⁺;Tfh cells and the levels of CXCL13 and IL-21 in plasma increased, whereas the level of IFN-γ significantly declined (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The results suggest that CD4⁺;CXCR5⁺;Tfh cells may participate in the pathogenesis of hyperglobulinemia during HBV infection.