Abnormal B Cell Compartment Associated With Tfh Cells in Children With Henoch-schonlein Purpura

Abstract

Aim IgA-producing B cells were found to be associated with children diagnosed with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP). The present study aimed to determine whether children with HSP possess abnormal B cell subsets. Methods A total of 14 children diagnosed with HSP, and age- and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled in our study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated, and the percentage of B cells subsets and Tfh cells were determined by flow cytometry. Finally, Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between the percentage of Tfh cells and B cell subsets. Results We found that the frequency of total B cells was significantly increased in children with HSP; however, the percentage of plasma cells was significantly lower in HSP children. A significant reduction in the count of naïve B cells and an increase in class-switched B cells were found in children with HSP compared with healthy controls. We observed that the expression of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CXCR5) on total CD4+ T cells and the percentage of CD4+CXCR5+ cells were significantly increased within HSP patients. Moreover, significant correlations between Tfh cells and various B cells subsets were observed. Conclusion Our study showed a Tfh cell-associated abnormal B cell compartment in HSP children.