Circulating CXCR5−PD-1hi peripheral T helper cells are associated with progression to type 1 diabetes

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: ) peripheral T helper (Tph) cells, in human type 1 diabetes. METHODS: ) at-risk children and 84 autoantibody-negative healthy control children, and the findings were replicated in a separate cohort of 15 children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes and 15 healthy control children. RESULTS: follicular T helper (Tfh) cells. Moreover, the frequency of circulating Tph cells was increased in children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, especially in those who are positive for multiple autoantibodies. Importantly, circulating Tph cells were also increased in autoantibody-positive at-risk children who later progressed to type 1 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Tph cells are associated with progression to clinical type 1 diabetes. Consequently, Tph cells could have potential both as a biomarker of disease progression and as a target for immunotherapy in type 1 diabetes.