Circulating follicular T-helper cells in patients with nonsegmental vitiligo

Abstract

Vitiligo is a common depigmenting dermatosis with an autoimmune background. Circulating T-follicular helper (Tfh) cells are reported to increase and correlate with disease activity and autoantibody production in several human autoimmune diseases. The potential contribution of Tfh cells in vitiligo pathogenesis has not been well elucidated yet. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the frequency of circulating Tfh cells in patients with nonsegmental vitiligo (NSV) in comparison to normal healthy subjects to detect their possible role in vitiligo pathogenesis. Venous blood samples were obtained from 25 patients with NSV and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls to determine the level of circulating Tfh cells (CD3+ CD4+ CXCR5+ PD-1+ T cell population), by flowcytometry. The frequency of peripheral CXCR5+ PD-1+ lymphocytes which are CD3+ CD4+ was significantly augmented in vitiligo patients than controls. It showed a significant positive correlation with vitiligo disease severity and activity estimated by Vitiligo Area Scoring Index and Vitiligo Disease Activity scores, respectively. These results emphasize on the potential role of Tfh cells in the pathogenesis, extent, and severity of NSV. Antagonizing the autoimmune initiating action of Tfh cells population or targeting their cytokine secretion might offer a helpful future tool for the treatment of patients with NSV particularly in active cases.

Keywords

• autoimmunity
• t-follicular helper cells
• vitiligo