慢性丙型肝炎患者外周血中Th17细胞的变化及其意义

Changes and clinical significance of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis C

目的探讨慢性丙型肝炎患者外周血中Th17细胞的变化及意义。方法选取60例慢性丙型肝炎患者及40名健康对照者,分别采用流式细胞术、实时定量逆转录聚合酶链反应(reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction,RT-PCR)和酶联免疫吸附法(enzyme linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)检测外周血Th17细胞百分率、核转录因子视黄醇类孤核受体γt(retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma-t,RORγt)mRNA的表达以及血浆白细胞介素17(interleukin 17,IL-17)的水平。结果慢性丙型肝炎患者Th17细胞百分率、RORγt mRNA及血浆IL-17水平与正常对照组相比均明显升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论慢性丙型肝炎患者外周血中Th17细胞及IL-17水平增高,Th17细胞可能参与了慢性丙型肝炎发病过程。

Objective To investigate the changes and clinical significance of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis C.Methods In 60 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 40 healthy controls,the percentages of Th17 cells were assessed by flow cytometry and the mRNA levels of RORγt were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）.The plasma levels of IL-17 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）.Results The percentage of Th17 cells,the mRNA expression of RORγt and the plasma levels of IL-17 were significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis C than those in normal controls （P ＜ 0.05）.Conclusion The levels of Th17 cells and IL-17 increase in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis C.Th17 cells may participate in the development of chronic hepatitis C.