Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of interleukin (IL)-21 and B cell lymphoma protein-6 on germinal center follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells and its relationship with the clinical features of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: The expression of peripheral blood cytokines IL-21 and Bcl-6 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. The distribution characteristics of Tfh and Tfr cells were detected using the triple immunofluorescence staining analysis. Results: The expression of IL-21 and Bcl-6 mRNA was upregulated in the ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease (CD) groups compared with that in the control group. Triple immunofluorescence staining showed that the number of Tfh cells in the intestinal germinal center obviously increased in the UC and CD groups compared with that in the control group, whereas the number of Tfr cells reduced. Conclusion: This study suggested that the Tfr and Tfh cells might be involved in the regulation of IBD. Bcl-6 and IL-21 can regulate the Tfh/Tfr ratio in the intestinal germinal center, promoting the occurrence and development of IBD.
Highlights
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by inflammation and abnormal bowel patterns
The expression of IL-21 and Bcl-6 mRNA was examined in the peripheral blood by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (Figures 1, 2)
The expression of IL-21 and Bcl-6 mRNA was low in the control group, while it significantly increased in the ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease (CD) groups (p < 0.05)
Summary
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by inflammation and abnormal bowel patterns. Despite minimal research on the Tfr/Tfh ratio in patients with IBD, some scholars (Ozaki et al, 2002; Eto et al, 2011) reported that changes in the levels of IL-2 and IL-6 in the local microenvironment of IBD might be involved in the differentiation of Tfh cells and the abnormal expression of transcription factors such as Bcl-6 and c-MAF. Based on the characteristics of IBD with excessive immune damage and autoimmune response, it is reasonable to speculate that Tfh and Tfr cells are involved in the progression of IBD. Triple immunofluorescence staining analysis was performed to detect the distribution characteristics of Tfh cells in the germinal center and Tfr cells in the intestinal tissue of patients with IBD by illustration there specia cell phenotype CD57/FoxP3. The present study might provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of IBD by the intervention of Tfh and Tfr cells
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