Increased Th22 cells are independently associated with Thl7 cells in type 1 diabetes

摘要

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is perceived as an autoimmune disease caused by T cell-mediated destruction of the insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. However, the number of inflammatory T cells in blood, as well as the relative importance of each cell type is unclear. Forty-two patients with T1D and 30 controls were enrolled. Circulating primary CD4~+ or CD8~+ T cells were quantified with 5-color flow cytometry. Serum IL-22 and IL-17 levels were examined by ELISA. Serum autoantibodies were measured by radio-binding assays, using ~(35)S-labeled glutamic acid decarboxylase-65 (GAD65), protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (IA-2), and zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8). Thl7-Th22 and Tcl-Tcl7 were significantly elevated in patients with T1D compared to control subjects, while there were no significant differences in Thl cells. The levels of these T cells in different stages of T1D were investigated. Th22 cells showed a positive correlation with Thl7 cells in T1D patients. However, we did not find any correlation between IL-17 and IL-22 in sera. Autoantibodies were not significantly different between patients with early T1D and those who have had it for a longer duration. This study indicates that Th22 may contribute to the pathogenesis of T1D. Blockade of Th22 cells might be of clinical profit in T1D patients.