Distinct features between HLA-DR+ and HLA-DR− PD-1hi CXCR5– T peripheral helper cells in seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. (4th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yamada, Hiroki; Sasaki, Takanori; Matsumoto, Kotaro; Suzuki, Katsuya; Takeshita, Masaru; Tanemura, Shuhei; Seki, Noriyasu; Tsujimoto, Hideto; Takeuchi, Tsutomu
• Is Part Of: Rheumatology. Volume 60:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 451
• Page End: 460
• Publication Date: 2020-09-04
• Subjects: rheumatoid arthritis -- T peripheral helper cells -- HLA-DR -- biomarker; Rheumatism -- Periodicals; Rheumatology -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa417
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-0324

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: PD-1hi CXCR5– T peripheral helper (Tph) cells are newly identified pathogenic CD4 helper T cells in RA. We evaluated the usefulness of Tph cell subsets as biomarkers of RA. Methods: RA patients who visited our rheumatology department between May 2015 and September 2017 and met the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria were included. We compared the correlation of DAS28-ESR between Tph cell subsets and 40 immune cell subsets. We also explored which subsets reflected the chronological changes in the disease activity after treatment. Results: Thirty-four seropositive RA patients, 11 seronegative RA patients and 34 healthy controls were included. Tph cell subsets that correlated with the DAS28-ESR were HLA-DR+ Tph cells ( rs = 0.50, P = 0.002), HLA-DR– Tph cells ( rs = 0.39, P = 0.03) and Tph1 cells ( rs = 0.41, P = 0.02). Among the other 40 immune cell subsets, HLA-DR+ Th1-17 cells ( rs = 0.38, P = 0.03), activated B cells ( rs = –0.35, P = 0.04), plasma cells ( rs = 0.43, P = 0.01) and CD14++ CD16+ monocytes ( rs = 0.36, P = 0.04) correlated, but not strongly as HLA-DR+ Tph cells. However, MTX treatment reduced the proportion of HLA-DR+ Tph cells independently of the disease activity. In contrast, HLA-DR– Tph cells accurately reflected the change in the DAS28-ESR during MTX treatment. Conclusion: HLA-DR+ Tph cells were decreased with MTX treatment, independent of the disease activity, while HLA-DR– Tph cells reflected the disease activity accurately during the treatment.