Circulating CCR7+ICOS+ Memory T Follicular Helper Cells in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

OBJECTIVE This study is aimed at examining the potential roles of circulating memory T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS The numbers of different subsets of circulating memory Tfh cells in 25 patients with relapsed MS before and after treatment as well as 14 healthy controls (HC) were examined by flow cytometry. The levels of plasma IL-21 in all patients and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IL-21 in some MS patients and controls with non-inflammatory neuronal diseases (NND) were measured by ELISA. RESULTS In comparison with that in the HC, the numbers of circulating CD3+CD4+CXCR5+CD45RA-, ICOS+, CCR7+ and CCR7+ICOS+ memory Tfh cells and the levels of plasma IL-21 significantly increased in MS patients, but significantly decreased in the patients with complete remission (CR). The levels of CSF IL-21 were significantly higher in the MS patients than that in the NND patients. The numbers of CCR7+ICOS+ memory Tfh cells were positively correlated with the EDSS scores, the levels of plasma and CSF IL-21, IgG, MBP-Ab or MOG-Ab. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicated that circulating memory Tfh cells, especially CCR7+ICOS+ memory Tfh cells, may be associated with the relapse of MS and may serve as a new therapeutic target.