T helper cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the compositions of Th1/Th2/Th3 cells in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected individuals by determining the expression of interleukin-4 (IL-4), inetrferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and transform growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in single CD4(+) T cells isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the role of polarized Th cell populations in chronic HBV-infection was discussed. METHODS: PBMCs from chronically infected HBV individuals were isolated, stimulated by PMA/Ionomycin/Monensin, and IL-4, IFN-gamma and TGF-beta production by CD4(+) T cells was determined by using fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. RESULTS: The percentage of IFN-gamma-producing T cells, IL-4-producing T cells and TGF-beta-producing T cells ranged from 2.3% - 18.6%, 1.1% - 8.7% and 0.7% - 7.1% respectively in CD4(+) T cells from non-infected individuals. Most of CD4(+) T cells from PBMCs in chronically infected HBV individuals were Th0 cells. The proportion of Th1 cells increased significantly with hepatic inflammatory activity, and in the active period of chronic hepatitis B infection were higher than those in the non-active period (P 0.05), but were higher than that from controls (P

Correlation of Thl7 cells and CD4＋CD25＋ regulatory T cells with clinical parameters in patients with systemic sclerosis

Background Systemic sclerosis （SSc） is an autoimmune disease that has three major components： inflammation, fibrosis, and vasculopathy. T-helper 17 cell （Th17） and regulatory T cell （Treg） are considered to be critical for autoimmune disease pathogenesis. The role of Th17 and Treg in SSc is still unclear. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of Th17s and CD4＊CD25~ Tregs in peripheral blood samples from SSc patients and to investigate the possible roles of these two T cell subsets in SSc pathogenesis. Methods Th17s （CD4 and IL-17 positive） and CD4＊CD25~ Tregs （CD4, CD25 and Foxp3 positive） in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 53 SSc patients and 27 healthy controls were counted by flow cytometry. The differences between SSc and control patients were analyzed. Clinical parameters, including disease duration, duration of the second symptoms, Modified Rodnan Skin Score （MRSS）, anti-topoisomerase I antibody, anti-U1 ribonucleoprotein （RNP） antibody, systemic involvements, pulmonary function test （PFT） and high resolution computed tomography （HRCT） score were prospectively collected following EUSTAR （EULAR scleroderma trial and research group） protocols. The correlations between the experimental and clinical data were investigated. Results The ratio of Th17 in SSc patients was significantly elevated compared to healthy controls （8.74% vs. 4.41%, P 〈0.001）. The amount of Th17 was positively correlated with disease duration （R=-0.531, P=-0.013） and duration of the second symptoms （R=-0.505, P=0.023）. The ratio of CD4＊CD25＊ Treg in SSc patients also significantly differed from the healthy controls （3.04% vs. 2.24%, P=0.018）. Elevated Tregs were more frequently observed in patients with a high interstitial lung disease （ILD） score on computed tomography （24/36） compared with patients with normal ILD scores （4/12, ,P=-0.043）. Elevated Tregs were also more often observed in patients with low carbon monoxide diffusing capacity （DLCO） （24/34） compared with patients with normal DLCO （4/11, P=0.042）. Conclusions T cell abnormalities are remarkable in systemic sclerosis. Th17s proliferate and their numbers increase with lengthened disease duration. Th17s might participate in both inflammation and fibrosis by secreting IL-17. CD4＋CD25＋ Tress also proliferate in SSc and may play important roles in promoting fibrosis.

Early changes of CD4＋CD25＋Foxp3＋ regulatory T cells and Th1/Th2, Tc1/Tc2 profiles in the peripheral blood of rats with controlled hemorrhagic shock and no fluid resuscitation

Background Hemorrhagic shock induces immune dysfunction. Regulatory T cells （Tregs）, T-helper （Th） cells, and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes （CTLs） can execute many crucial actions in immune and inflammatory responses. This study was conducted to investigate the early pathophysiological changes of CD4＋CD25＋Foxp3＋ Treg and Th1/Th2, Tc1/Tc2 profiles in the peripheral blood of rats with controlled hemorrhagic shock and no fluid resuscitation. Methods A rat model of controlled hemorrhagic shock with no fluid resuscitation was established. Peripheral blood samples were taken before and four hours after hemorrhagic shock with no fluid resuscitation. Three color flow cytometry was used to detect Tregs, Thl, Th2, Tcl and Tc2 ceils in the samples. Results In the peripheral blood of rats, the percentage of Tregs four hours after hemorrhagic shock was significantly lower than before hemorrhagic shock （P=0.001）. The ratios of Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 were changed from （23.08±8.98）% to （23.91±15.36）%, and from （40.40±21.56）% to （65.48±23.88）%, respectively. Conclusions At an early stage, the advent of hemorrhagic shock is related to an early decrease of Tregs, and a mild shift in the Th1/Th2, Tc1/Tc2 balance toward Thl and Tcl dominance. These changes are part of a hyper-inflammatory state of the host, and will deteriorate the maintenance of immune balance. Further influences and detailed mechanisms need to be investigated.

Effect of Xuebijing injection on peripheral T-lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with severe trauma

Objective： To investigate the effect and clinical significance of Xuebijing injection on peripheral T-lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with severe trauma. Methods： Thirty-three patients with severe trauma were randomly divided into a control group （n=16） and a treatment group （n=17）. The patients of two groups were all treated conventionally, and the only difference was that Xuebijing injection was given to patients of the treatment group. The CD4^＋ and CD8^＋ subpopulations of T-lymphocyte in the peripheral blood were detected respectively on admission, 3rd and 5th days after trauma by double antibody labeling and flow cytometry. Results： The CD4^＋ T-lymphocytes and CD4^＋/CD8^＋ ratio of peripheral blood in patients with severe trauma decreased markedly on the 3rd and 5th days after trauma. Furthermore, compared with control group, the peripheral CD4^＋ T-lymphocytes and CD4^＋/CD8^＋ ratio of treatment group renewed obviously on the 5th day after trauma, and showed statistical differences （P〈0.05）. Conelusion： In the treatment of patients with severe trauma, the early use of Xuebijing injection is effective in correcting disorder or suppression of T-lymphocyte subpopulations regulating network, and promoting a more balanced profile of immunologic function.

Effectiveness of Xiaoyin Jiedu granules in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris in patients with blood-heat symptom patterns in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effectiveness of Xiaoyin Jiedu(XYJD)granules in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris(PSV)in patients with a blood-heat pattern(BHP)in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM).We also aimed to identify the possible underlying immunological mechanism.METHODS:Twenty-five PSV patients with BHP and ten normal controls were enrolled from January 1,2015 to December 31,2016.Patients were randomly assigned to either the XYJD group(15 cases)or the placebo group(10 cases),in which patients were treated with XYJD granules or a placebo,respectively.Additionally,albolene was used to relieve skin dryness in these two groups.The psoriasis area and severity indexes,dermatology life quality indexes and itching scores were assessed at the end of the 2 nd,4 th and 8 th week of treatment.The number of peripheral blood T helper(Th)9,Th17 and regulatory T cells(Tregs)and the m RNA and protein expression levels of PU.1,RAR-related orphan receptor(ROR)-γt,forkhead box protein 3(Foxp3),interleukin(IL)-9,IL-17,IL-23 and IL-10 in the control and experimental groups were compared before and after treatment.RESULTS:Psoriasis area and severity indexes and itching scores of patients in the XYJD group were significantly lower than those in the placebo group,whereas dermatology life quality indexes were significantly higher.In comparison with the placebo group,XYJD granules significantly reduced the number of Th17 cells and the m RNA and protein expression levels of Th17-related ROR-γt,IL-17,IL-22 and IL-23 in the peripheral blood and reduced the number of Th9 cells and the m RNA and protein expression levels of Th9-related PU.1 and IL-9.CONCLUSION:XYJD granules were effective against PSV in patients with BHP by reducing the number of Th9 and Th17 cells and the levels of their related cytokines.