Cai Xiao-Yan, Luo Min, Lin Xiao-Jun, Xu Yan-Li, Tang Chun, Ye Jing-Hua, Li Wei-Nian, He Zhi-Xiang, Yu Na
Department of Rheumatology, First Municipal People's Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2012 Feb 21;92(7):460-3. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.00376-2491-2012.07.008.
To explore the expression and significance of Th17 and Treg cells in peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Thirty active SLE patients (including 17 SLE patients with lupus nephritis), 20 inactive SLE patients and 20 healthy controls were enrolled. The expressions of Th17 cells and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were evaluated by flow cytometry. The correlations between the expression of Th17 cells, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells and disease activity (SLEDAI), as well as the ratios of Th17 cells and Treg cells (Th17/Treg) in SLE patients and healthy controls were analyzed respectively.
The expression of Th17 cells in PBMC of SLE patients was higher than that in healthy controls [(1.39 ± 0.60)% vs (0.80 ± 0.33)%, P < 0.01] while the expression of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells decreased in SLE patients [(3.09 ± 1.54)% vs (6.04 ± 1.49)%, P < 0.01]. The increased expression of Th17 cells and reduced CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells in PBMC were positively correlated with SLEDAI and negatively correlated with complements C3 and C4. There were increased expression of Th17 cells and reduced CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells in PBMC of lupus nephritis versus SLE patients without nephritis.
There is an abnormal elevation of Th17 cells and decrease of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells in PBMC of SLE patients. The imbalance between Th17 and Treg cells may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of SLE.
探讨系统性红斑狼疮（SLE）患者外周血中Th17细胞和调节性T细胞（Treg）的表达及意义。
纳入30例活动期SLE患者（其中17例为狼疮性肾炎患者）、20例非活动期SLE患者和20例健康对照者。采用流式细胞术检测外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）中Th17细胞及CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg细胞的表达。分别分析SLE患者中Th17细胞、CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg细胞表达与疾病活动度（SLEDAI）的相关性，以及SLE患者与健康对照者中Th17细胞与Treg细胞的比例（Th17/Treg）。
SLE患者PBMC中Th17细胞的表达高于健康对照者[（1.39±0.60）%对（0.80±0.33）%，P<0.01]，而CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg细胞的表达降低[（3.09±1.54）%对（6.04±1.49）%，P<0.01]。PBMC中Th17细胞表达增加及CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg细胞减少与SLEDAI呈正相关，与补体C3和C4呈负相关。狼疮性肾炎患者PBMC中Th17细胞表达增加及CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg细胞减少，与无肾炎的SLE患者相比。
SLE患者PBMC中Th17细胞异常升高，CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg细胞减少。Th17细胞与Treg细胞失衡可能在SLE发病机制中起关键作用。
