Figure 1.

The distribution of cT_FH subsets and T_FR cells in patients with pSS and their association with laboratory serological markers. PBMCs were isolated from 38 pSS patients and 29 healthy controls (HC) then were stained with fluorochrome-labeled antibodies as described previously. Peripheral circulating (c)T_FH subsets were quantified as their percentage within CD4⁺CXCR5⁺ lymphocyte population. (A) Representative dot plots show the gating strategy and the division of T_FH cell subpopulations. Percentages of cT_FH1 (B), cT_FH1/17 (C), cT_FH2 (D), cT_FH17 (E) in pSS patients (n = 38), pSS without anti-SSA(−) (n = 14), pSS with anti-SSA(+) (n = 24) and HCs (n = 29). (F) Representative dot plots show the gating of ICOS⁺PD-1⁺ activated cT_FH cells in pSS and HC. Percentages of activated cT_FH cells. (G) Representative dot plots display the gating of T_FR cells in pSS and HC. Frequencies of T_FR cells. (H) Correlation analysis of the percentages of T_FH cell subsets and T_FR cells with different serological parameters in patients with pSS. One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test (B, D, E) or Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn’s multiple comparisons test (C, F, G) was used. Correlation analysis was performed using Spearman’s test (H). Box plots represent the interquartile range (IQR) with a line in the middle as median and “+” sign as the mean value. Statistically significant differences are indicated by *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01.