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

BackgroundThis study aimed at examining the numbers of different subsets of circulating Tfh and B cells in patients with new onset autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). MethodsA 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. ResultsIn 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. ConclusionCirculating activated Tfh and plasma cells may be associated with hypergammaglobulinaemia during the pathogenic process of AIH in humans.