Distinct phenotypic subpopulations of circulating CD4+CXCR5+ follicular helper T cells in children with active IgA vasculitis

Background Circulating follicular helper T (Tfh) cells are a heterogeneous population of CD4+ helper T cells that promotes pathogenic immune responses in autoimmune diseases. In this study, we examined the status of different subpopulations of Tfh cells in peripheral circulation and their associations with various clinical characteristics of IgA vasculitis (IgAV).