类风湿关节炎患者外周血T_H17与Treg细胞的变化

Profile of T_H17/Treg balance in peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

目的探讨外周血辅助性T细胞17(TH17)与调节性T细胞(Treg)在类风湿关节炎(RA)发生、发展中的变化。方法选取RA患者活动组25例、稳定组20例及健康人对照组25例,采用流式细胞术及定量PCR的方法,分别从蛋白质水平与mRNA水平检测其外周血CD4+T细胞IL-17及FoxP3的表达。结果活动组RA患者外周血CD4+T细胞IL-17蛋白质及mRNA表达水平显著高于稳定组(P<0.01),稳定组又显著高于健康人对照组(P<0.01)。活动组RA患者外周血CD4+T细胞FoxP3蛋白质及mRNA表达水平显著低于稳定组及健康人对照组(P<0.01),但稳定组FoxP3表达与健康人对照组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 RA患者外周血中存在TH17/Treg细胞失衡,且这种变化与疾病的进程相关。

Objective To investigate the profile of TH17 /Treg balance in peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis（RA）.Methods Twenty-five RA patients in active stage were selected as the active group and 20 RA patients in remission stage as the remission group.The control group was consisted of 25 healthy individuals.The expressions of IL-17 and FoxP3 on CD4 ＋ T cells in peripheral blood were assessed in levels of protein by flow cytometry and in mRNA level by quantitative PCR respectively.Results The percentage of CD4 ＋ IL-17 ＋ T cells and IL-17 mRNA expression of the active group were significantly higher than those of remission group（P 0.01）,and there were also significant differences for the results between remission group and control group（P 0.01）.However,the expression of FoxP3 on CD4 ＋ T cells of the active group was significantly lower than that of both remission and control group（P 0.01）.There was no difference for FoxP3 expression between remission group and control group（P 0.05）.The expression levels of FoxP3 and IL-17 mRNA was consistent with corresponding protein levels.Conclusion TH17 /Treg balance shift may exist in peripheral blood of patients with RA and play an important role for the progress of RA.