However, irrespective of the absolute counts of CD4+CXCR5+CCR7lowPD-1high cTFH, the increase in their proportion compared to other cTFH subsets reflects an aberrant distribution of these subsets consistent with the functional pattern of an active Tfh differentiation in lymphoid organs that correlates with clinical indices in autoimmune diseases. The gene discussed is CD4; the disease is autoimmune disease.