Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β3 in differentiation and function of T peripheral helper (Tph)-like cells and its relevance to disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
An erratum to this article was published (Rheumatology (Oxford), 1 Sep 2026 ↗)
Authors' conclusion
The induction of Tph-like cells by TGF-β3 mainly produced from tissue macrophages plays a pivotal role in the pathological processes of active LN by enhancing B-cell differentiation in patients with SLE.
Study context
- Population
- Human CD4+ T cells from volunteers or patients with SLE; renal biopsy specimens from patients with LN
Methodological detailsflow cytometry, quantitative PCR, multicolour immunofluorescence staining of renal biopsy specimens
- Flow cytometry
- Quantitative PCR
- Multicolour immunofluorescence staining of renal biopsy specimens
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Among multiple cytokines, TGF-β3 characteristically induced PD-1hi musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma (MAF)+, IL-21+IL-10+ Tph-like cells, with marked upregulation of PDCD-1, MAF, SOX4 and CXCL13
- Induction of Tph-like cells by TGF-β3 suppressed by neutralization of TGF-βR2
- TGF-β3-induced Tph-like cells efficiently promoted differentiation of class-switch memory B cells into plasmocytes, enhancing antibody production
- Proportion of peripheral blood Tph cells significantly increased in SLE vs healthy volunteers, in concordance with disease activity and severity of organ manifestations such as LN
- TGF-β3 strongly expressed on macrophages, associated with accumulation of CD4+ CXCR5-PD-1+ Tph cells in renal tissue of patients with active LN
Original publication
TGF-β3 in differentiation and function of Tph-like cells and its relevance to disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 12 November 2022. doi:10.
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