Study on the Role and Mechanism of STAT3 Combined with Tfh Cells in the Pathogenesis of Asthma Complicated with Ulcerative Colitis_Chinese Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

Authors：

TIAN Yu , WU Chao , CHEN Liping ,  YANG Xiaohong

Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830000, P.R. China;

Corresponding?author：

YANG Xiaohong, Email: yxh6176@126.com

Keywords：

Bronchial asthma combined with ulcerative colitis; Tfh cells; STAT3

DOI：

10.7507/1671-6205.202512051

Video：

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Abstract Full text Figures/Tables Video References Cited by

Objective This study aims to provide new targets for blocking the inflammatory injury of bronchial asthma combined with ulcerative colitis by analyzing the expression characteristics of Tfh cells and STAT3 in patients with bronchial asthma combined with ulcerative colitis. Methods Patients with bronchial asthma, ulcerative colitis, bronchial asthma combined with ulcerative colitis, and healthy individuals were included in the study. The levels of IL-4, IL-17A, IL-10, IL-21, and IFN-γ in the serum of the participants were detected by ELISA. The proportions of Tfh cells and Tfh1, Tfh2, Tfh17, and Tfr cells in the serum were analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression levels of CXCR5, Bcl-6, Blimp-1, STAT3, and pSTAT3 in different groups were analyzed by PCR. Results A total of 36 subjects were included in this study. The ACT score of the bronchial asthma combined with ulcerative colitis group was lower than that of the bronchial asthma group, and the lung function was worse. The Mayo score of the bronchial asthma combined with ulcerative colitis group was higher than that of the ulcerative colitis group. Compared with the other three groups, the proportion of Tfh17 cells in the bronchial asthma combined with ulcerative colitis group was higher, and the expression of IL-4, IL-17A, IL-21and IFN-γ was higher, while the expression of IL-10 was lower. The expression of CXCR5, Bcl-6, and pSTAT3 was higher, and the expression of Blimp-1 was lower. The differences in the above results were statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Compared with patients with simple bronchial asthma and simple ulcerative colitis, patients with bronchial asthma combined with ulcerative colitis present a more severe inflammatory response, which may be related to the increased proportion of STAT3 molecules and Tfh cells.

Citation： TIAN Yu, WU Chao, CHEN Liping, YANG Xiaohong. Study on the Role and Mechanism of STAT3 Combined with Tfh Cells in the Pathogenesis of Asthma Complicated with Ulcerative Colitis. Chinese Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2026, 25(8): 537-544. doi: 10.7507/1671-6205.202512051 Copy

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10.	Zhu C, Ni X, Xu J, et al. Interaction Between Tfh/Tfr Ratio and Regulatory B Cell in Autoimmune Diseases[J]. Iran J Immunol, 2025, 22(1): 1-12.
11.	Zhu X, Chen X, Cao Y, et al. Optimal CXCR5 expression during Tfh maturation involves the Bhlhe40-Pou2af1 axis[J]. Cell Rep, 2025, 44(11): 116470.
12.	Liu B, Qi H. In Vivo Migration and Tfh Cell Interactions[J]. Methods Mol Biol, 2022, 2380: 99-109.
13.	李東升, 李風森, 常文俊. 哮喘急性發作期患者外周血Bcl-6mRNA、Blimp-1mRNA、IL-21水平變化及意義[J]. 臨床肺科雜志, 2018, 23(01): 70-72+78.
14.	Wang J, Wu Z, Huang Y, et al. IRF4 induces M1 macrophage polarization and aggravates ulcerative colitis progression by the Bcl6-dependent STAT3 pathway[J]. Environ Toxicol, 2024, 39(4): 2390-2404.
15.	Olbrich P, Freeman AF. STAT1 and STAT3 gain of function: clinically heterogenous immune regulatory disorders[J]. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol, 2024, 24(6): 440-447.
16.	Damasceno LEA, Prado DS, Veras FP, et al. PKM2 promotes Th17 cell differentiation and autoimmune inflammation by fine-tuning STAT3 activation[J]. J Exp Med, 2020, 217(10): e20190613.
17.	郭純鈺, 應培挺, 郭莉. STAT3基因突變相關免疫性疾病的研究進展[J]. 中國新藥與臨床雜志, 2024, 43(2): 81-87.
18.	Kim S, Boehme L, Nel L, et al. Defective STAT5 Activation and Aberrant Expression of BCL6 in Naive CD4 T Cells Enhances Follicular Th Cell-like Differentiation in Patients with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis[J]. J Immunol, 2022, 208(4): 807-818.
19.	Cheng Q, Yang X, Zou T, et al. RACK1 enhances STAT3 stability and promotes T follicular helper cell development and function during blood-stage Plasmodium infection in mice[J]. PLoS Pathog, 2024, 20(7): e1012352.

1. Gan Q, Zhu Y, Guo Y, et al. T cell heterogeneity in asthma pathogenesis: from immunological mechanisms to biological targeted therapies[J]. Front Immunol. 2025, 16: 1658774.
2. Sowerby J, Choi J, Rao DA. T Peripheral Helper Cells in Lymphoid Aggregate and Tertiary Lymphoid Structure Formation[J]. Immunol Rev, 2026, 337(1): e70088.
3. 中華醫學會呼吸病學分會哮喘學組. 支氣管哮喘防治指南(2020年版)[J]. 中華結核和呼吸雜志, 2020, 43(12): 1023-1048.
4. ulcerative colitis Group, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, Chinese Medical Association. Chinese consensus on diagnosis and treatment in inflammatory bowel disease(2018, Beijing)[J]. J Dig Dis. 2021, 22(6): 298-317.
5. Bick F, Brenis Gómez CM, Lammens I, et al. IL-2 family cytokines IL-9 and IL-21 differentially regulate innate and adaptive type 2 immunity in asthma[J]. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2024, 154(5): 1129-1145.
6. Kudo T, Shimizu T. Mucosal immune systems of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease: A review[J]. Pediatr Int, 2023, 65(1): e15511.
7. Olatunde AC, Hale JS, Lamb TJ. Cytokine-skewed Tfh cells: functional consequences for B cell help[J]. Trends Immunol, 2021, 42(6): 536-550. DOI: 10. 1016/j. it. 2021. 04. 006.
8. Yao Y, Chen CL, Yu D, et al. Roles of follicular helper and regulatory T cells in allergic diseases and allergen immunotherapy[J]. Allergy, 2021, 76(2): 456-470.
9. Zhu Y, Jiang Q, Lei C, et al. The response of CD27+CD38+ plasmablasts, CD24hiCD38hi transitional B cells, CXCR5-ICOS+PD-1+ Tph, Tph2 and Tfh2 subtypes to allergens in children with allergic asthma[J]. BMC Pediatr, 2024, 24(1): 154.
10. Zhu C, Ni X, Xu J, et al. Interaction Between Tfh/Tfr Ratio and Regulatory B Cell in Autoimmune Diseases[J]. Iran J Immunol, 2025, 22(1): 1-12.
11. Zhu X, Chen X, Cao Y, et al. Optimal CXCR5 expression during Tfh maturation involves the Bhlhe40-Pou2af1 axis[J]. Cell Rep, 2025, 44(11): 116470.
12. Liu B, Qi H. In Vivo Migration and Tfh Cell Interactions[J]. Methods Mol Biol, 2022, 2380: 99-109.
13. 李東升, 李風森, 常文俊. 哮喘急性發作期患者外周血Bcl-6mRNA、Blimp-1mRNA、IL-21水平變化及意義[J]. 臨床肺科雜志, 2018, 23(01): 70-72+78.
14. Wang J, Wu Z, Huang Y, et al. IRF4 induces M1 macrophage polarization and aggravates ulcerative colitis progression by the Bcl6-dependent STAT3 pathway[J]. Environ Toxicol, 2024, 39(4): 2390-2404.
15. Olbrich P, Freeman AF. STAT1 and STAT3 gain of function: clinically heterogenous immune regulatory disorders[J]. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol, 2024, 24(6): 440-447.
16. Damasceno LEA, Prado DS, Veras FP, et al. PKM2 promotes Th17 cell differentiation and autoimmune inflammation by fine-tuning STAT3 activation[J]. J Exp Med, 2020, 217(10): e20190613.
17. 郭純鈺, 應培挺, 郭莉. STAT3基因突變相關免疫性疾病的研究進展[J]. 中國新藥與臨床雜志, 2024, 43(2): 81-87.
18. Kim S, Boehme L, Nel L, et al. Defective STAT5 Activation and Aberrant Expression of BCL6 in Naive CD4 T Cells Enhances Follicular Th Cell-like Differentiation in Patients with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis[J]. J Immunol, 2022, 208(4): 807-818.
19. Cheng Q, Yang X, Zou T, et al. RACK1 enhances STAT3 stability and promotes T follicular helper cell development and function during blood-stage Plasmodium infection in mice[J]. PLoS Pathog, 2024, 20(7): e1012352.

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Study on the Role and Mechanism of STAT3 Combined with Tfh Cells in the Pathogenesis of Asthma Complicated with Ulcerative Colitis

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