Circulating Memory T Follicular Helper Cells in Patients with Neuromyelitis Optica/Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders

Figure 3

FACS analysis of circulating CCR7⁻ and CCR7⁻ICOS⁺ memory Tfh cells in individual participants. After staining with different fluorescent antibodies, the cells were gated sequentially on lymphocytes, CD3⁺ and CD4⁺, and then CD45RA⁻ and CCR7⁻ cells. After that, the cells were gated on CXCR5 and we obtained CD3⁺CD4⁺CD45RA⁻CCR7⁻CXCR5⁺ (CCR7⁻ memory Tfh) cells. Subsequently, CCR7⁻ memory Tfh cells were gated on ICOS expression, and the percentages of CCR7⁻ and CCR7⁻ICOS⁺ memory Tfh cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The numbers of each subtype of cells were calculated. (a) Flow cytometric analysis. ((b)-(c)) The percentages of circulating CCR7⁻ and CCR7⁻ICOS⁺ memory Tfh cells in HCs and untreated NMO/NMOSD patients. ((d)-(e)) The numbers of circulating CCR7⁻ and CCR7⁻ICOS⁺ memory Tfh cells in HCs and untreated NMO/NMOSD patients. The horizontal lines indicate the median values for each group.

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