Synergistic immune dysregulation: Expansion of autoreactive B cells and Tfh/TPH cells and their clinical implications in childhood-onset lupus
Authors' conclusion
Newly Diagnosed cSLE patients is distinguished by profound remodeling of lymphocyte compartments, expansion of autoreactive and helper subsets, and heightened proinflammatory cytokine production, underscoring potential immunological biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Study context
- Population
- Newly diagnosed childhood-onset SLE patients and healthy controls
- Participants
- 25 vs 23
- Exposure
- Newly diagnosed cSLE vs healthy controls
- ND-cSLEsn = 25
- Healthy controls (HCs)n = 23reference
- Outcome
- Immunophenotypic alterations (lymphocyte subsets, helper T-cell populations) and serum cytokines
Methodological detailsmultiparameter flow cytometry, bead-based cytokine assays
- Multiparameter flow cytometry
- Bead-based cytokine assays
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Immunophenotype vs HCs
- Cytopenias, reduced CD3+ and CD4+ T cells, decreased CD4+/CD8+ ratio and diminished NK cells in ND-cSLEs
- Autoreactive CD21-CD27-B cells and plasmablasts markedly expanded; naïve and memory B-cell compartments contracted
- Increased PD-1 and HLA-DR expression on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (activation and exhaustion)
- T peripheral helper cells and CXCR3+ Tfh cells significantly enriched
- Elevated serum IL-10, IL-8 and IL-21
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Synergistic immune dysregulation: Expansion of autoreactive B cells and Tfh/TPH cells and their clinical implications in childhood-onset lupus. Lupus. Published 23 February 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →