The Association of Circulating T Follicular Helper Cells and Regulatory Cells with Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients

Objective: This study aims to investigate the association of circulating T follicular helper (cTfh) cells and T follicular regulatory (cTfr) cells with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Methods: A total of 22 newly diagnosed, untreated AML patients as well as 26 healthy controls were enrolled. Percentages of cTfh and cTfr cells were detected using flow cytometry. Results: Compared to healthy controls, a significantly higher percentage of cTfr cells was observed in AML patients (4.10 +/- 11.18 vs. 0.63 +/- 0.38%) (p < 0.05). In addition, a significantly lower cTfh/cTfr ratio was found in the AML patients' group when compared to the control group (9.04 +/- 9.19 vs. 11.66 +/- 5.68) (p < 0.05). A lower level of plasma IL-2 and TGF-beta 1 was found in AML patients. Based on the complete remission (CR) response after one cycle of inductive chemotherapy, patients were divided into two groups at sample collection: AML with and without CR. Significantly lower percentages of cTfr cells and a higher cTfh/cTfr ratio were found in the group of AML patients with CR than in the AML patients without CR. Conclusion: There was a significantly higher percentage of cTfr cells in AML patients. cTfr cells may have a potential association with the pathogenesis of AML patients.