Background and Aims

Sarcoidosis is one of granulomatous diseases. Granuloma formation is a result of lymphocytes activation. In different studies the changes in B cells and T cells subsets in blood and broncho-alveolar fluid were found. Alteration of B cells and T cells subsets might be the result of T follicular helpers (Tfh) activity. Nowadays there is no data about the role of T follicular helpers in sarcoidosis.

The aim of this study was to determine the peripheral blood Tfh in patients with sarcoidosis.

Methods

In a prospective comparative study conducted in 2016-2018 we analyzed peripheral blood circulating Tfh cell subsets in 34 patients with first diagnosed sarcoidosis and 30 healthy donors using multicolor flow cytometry. The statistical comparisons of data were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test and ROC analysis with GraphPad Prism Version 6.0 (USA).

Results

According to Mann-Whitney U test in sarcoidosis patients in comparison with healthy subjects the level of Tfh1 in effector and central memory was found to be decreased and the level of Tf2, Tfh17 increased (p<0.01). According to the ROC analysis the difference significant for diagnostic purpose wasn`t found (AUC ≤0.7).

Conclusions

In sarcoidosis group were found an increase of Tfh2 and Tfh17 cells, that induce antibody secretion in B cells, and a decrease in Tfh1 cells, that regulate the apoptosis of B cells. This results might be the additional confirmation of autoimmune origin of sarcoidosis.