Circulating peripheral helper T cells are expanded and associate with disease activity in granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Peripheral helper T (Tph) cells, a recently identified Th cell subset, have been implicated in various autoimmune diseases. However, their role in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential clinical significance of circulating Tph cells (cTph) in GPA.

Methods

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from 74 remission GPA-patients, 26 active GPA-patients and 22 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Flow cytometry was used to quantify cTph cells and their subset distribution. Single-cell multi-omics profiling was performed in an independent cohort (5 remission GPA-patients, 5 active GPA-patients and 5 healthy controls). Plasma IL-21 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and ass

SUBMITTER: Liao H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12797565 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature