| Abstract [eng] |
Introduction: First time human follicular T helper cells (TFH) were mentioned almost 20 years ago. Today we know, that these cells support B cell proliferation, activation, immunoglobulin production and are involved in the regulation of B-cell responses. Most researchers focus on germinal center TFH cells population, however peripheral blood TFH cells are associated with angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma, a rare and aggressive T cell neoplasm. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of human follicular T helper cells in peripheral blood and bone marrow of patients with suspected malignant blood disorders. Patients and Methods: Participants were 250 males (n=126) and females (n=124) aged 18-96 years. In this study we examined 133 bone marrow and 117 peripheral blood samples. All participants were divided into 5 groups: immunophenotype without aberrations, reactive phenotype changes, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, other chronic B cell lymphoproliferative disorders and other chronic T cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate CD3, CD4, CD7, CD10, CD45, CD279, CXCR5, HLA-DR marker expression on follicular T helper cells and other T helper cells. The statistical analysis was performed using “SPSS Statistics” and Microsoft Excel software. Results: Human follicular T helper cells immunophenotype is CD3+, CD4+, CD7-, CD10+, CD45+, CD279+, CXCR5+ and HLA-DR+. In bone marrow most abundant TFH cells population was found in the group of other chronic B cell lymphoproliferative disorders, while the smallest – in the group of other chronic T cell lymphoproliferative disorders. In peripheral blood, however, TFH population amounts between all groups was not significantly different. TFH population amounts in bone marrow and peripheral blood are not different in patients with reactive phenotype changes. TFH cells express higher amounts of CD10, CD279, CXCR5 and HLA-DR markers, and less amounts of CD7 marker than other T helper cells in peripheral blood and bone marrow. Also TFH cells express higher levels of CD7 and lower levels of CD3, CD4, CD10, CD45, CD279 and HLA-DR than angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphomas blasts, with the same CXCR5 expression. |
