Comprehensive Evaluation of Different T-Helper Cell Subsets Differentiation and Function in Rheumatoid Arthritis

摘要

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common autoimmune disorder. Loss of Thl/Th2 and Thl7/Treg balance has been reported in several inflammatory autoimmune diseases. This study was to investigate Thl, Th2, Thl7, and Treg differentiation and related cytokines in RA patients. The frequencies of Thl, Th2, Thl7, and Treg cells in peripheral blood of RA patients (n = 76) and healthy controls (n = 18) were determined by flow cytometry. Eight serum cytokines were analyzed using cytometric bead array. The results demonstrated that RA patients exhibited increased peripheral Thl/Thl7 cells and Thl/Thl7-related cytokines. However, Thl cells only reached significant difference at advanced stage, but Th17 at all stages, suggesting more important roles in Th17 cells. For Th2 and Treg cells, there was a different function pattern in RA progression. Although with the increase of DAS28 score, Th2 cell experienced some degree of decrease in RA patients, no significant difference was observed. IL-4 and IL-10 showed a significant increase in RA patients. These indicated that Th2 cells might exert immunosuppression effects mainly by secreting cytokines. Treg cells were found significantly decreased in RA patients, but no difference was observed in TGF-beta expression, indicating a cell-cell interaction pattern in Treg cell.