类风湿性关节炎患者外周血Th17/Treg细胞比率失衡的研究

Study on ratio imbalance of peripheral blood Th17/Treg cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

目的:观察类风湿性关节炎(RA)患者外周血Th17细胞与Foxp3+CD4+CD25+调节性T(Treg)细胞的平衡状态与疾病状态的关系,初步阐明Th17/Treg细胞比率失衡在RA发病机制中的作用和意义。方法:流式细胞术(FCM)检测RA患者和健康人外周血中Th17细胞和Foxp3+CD4+CD25+Treg细胞的比率。结果:活动期RA患者外周血CD3+CD4+T细胞和Th17细胞的比率均明显高于健康对照组(P均<0.05);而Foxp3+CD4+CD25+Treg细胞的比率明显低于健康对照组(P<0.05)。随疾病活动性的增加,Th17细胞表达增高(P<0.05);而Foxp3+CD4+CD25+Treg细胞表达降低,但无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:RA患者外周血T细胞紊乱以CD4+T细胞的增加为主,Th17细胞比率的增加和Foxp3+CD4+CD25+Treg细胞比率的降低所致的Th17/Treg细胞比率失衡,可能在RA的发生发展中起重要作用。

AIM：To observe the relationship between balance of peripheral blood Th17 cells and Foxp3＋CD4＋CD25＋ regulatory T（Treg） cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis（RA）,and to clarify the role the ratio imbalance of peripheral blood Th17/Treg cells playing in pathogenesis of RA.METHODS：The ratio of peripheral blood Th17 cells and Foxp3＋CD4＋CD25＋Treg cells in RA patients and healthy subjects were determined by flow cytometry（FCM）.RESULTS：Compared with healthy controls,the ratio of both CD3＋CD4＋T cells and Th17 cells in RA patients increased significantly（P0.05）,while the percentage of Foxp3＋CD4＋CD25＋ Treg cells was markedly lower（P0.05）.With the development of RA activity,the ratio of Th17 cells increased（P0.05）,and the ratio of Foxp3＋CD4＋CD25＋Treg cells decreased（P0.05）.CONCLUSION：The disorder of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets in RA patients characterized by increased CD4＋T cells.The imbalance between Th17 cells and Foxp3＋CD4＋CD25＋Treg cells resulted from increased ratio of Th17 cells and decreased ratio of Foxp3＋CD4＋CD25＋Treg cells may play a critical role in RA progression.