The Association of Circulating T Follicular Helper Cells and Regulatory Cells with Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the association of circulating T follicular helper (cTfh) cells and T follicular regulatory (cTfr) cells with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. METHODS: A total of 22 newly diagnosed, untreated AML patients as well as 26 healthy controls were enrolled. Percentages of cTfh and cTfr cells were detected using flow cytometry. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, a significantly higher percentage of cTfr cells was observed in AML patients (4.10 ± 11.18 vs. 0.63 ± 0.38%) (p < 0.05). In addition, a significantly lower cTfh/cTfr ratio was found in the AML patients' group when compared to the control group (9.04 ± 9.19 vs. 11.66 ± 5.68) (p < 0.05). A lower level of plasma IL-2 and TGF-ß1 was found in AML patients. Based on the complete remission (CR) response after one cycle of inductive chemotherapy, patients were divided into two groups at sample collection AML with and without CR. Significantly lower percentages of cTfr cells and a higher cTfh/cTfr ratio were found in the group of AML patients with CR than in the AML patients without CR. CONCLUSION: There was a significantly higher percentage of cTfr cells in AML patients. cTfr cells may have a potential association with the pathogenesis of AML patients.