Abstract:

Objective
 To explore the changes and clinical significances of  subtypes of  T helper cells Th22,Th17, and Th1,which can produce interleukin 22(IL-22) and their cytokines in peripheral blood of the patients with systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE),and to provide basis for SLE treatment.Methods 30 patients with new onset SLE(SLE group) and 30 healthy controls(healthy control group) were selected.The expression ratios  of Th22,Th17 （IL-22+ Th17 and IL-22－ Th17）,Th1（IL-22+Th1 and IL-22－ Th1）cells in peripheral blood of the objects were compared by flow cytometry;while the levels of plasma  IL-22,IL-17,and interferon γ(IFN-γ) in the patients and healthy controls were measured by ELlSA method;the correlation between  the ratios of cells and the  expression levels of cytokines was analyzed by  Spearman correlation test.Results Compared with healthy control group,the ratios  of Th22,Th17,and IL-22+Th1 cells in peripheral blood of  the patients in  SLE group were siginificantly higher than those in healthy control group(P<0.05),and the expression levels of plasma  IL-22 and IL-17 of the patients in SLE group were also increased(P<0.05).A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the ratios of Th17 (IL-22+,IL-22－) and Th22 cells of the  patients in SLE group（r=0.721,P<0.0001;r=0.222,P=0.0132）.The ratio  of Th22 cells was positively correlated with the level of plasma IL-22 of the patients in SLE group (r=0.0326,P<0.0001).The ratios  of  IL-22+CD4+T and IL-22－Th17 cells in peripheral blood of the patients in SLE group were increased along with the increasing of the disease activity score of SLE (SLEDAI)(r=0.549,P=0.0003;r=0.231 P=0.028）.The ratios  of Th22 cells in the peripheral blood of  the SLE patients with facial erythema or hair loss,and  positive  anti nuclear antibody(ANA) were increased (P<0.05).The  ratios of Th17 cells (including IL-22+ and IL-22－Th17) in the SLE patients with light allergies or positive anti dsDNA  were also increased (P<0.05).Conclusion The IL-22+ CD4+T cells mainly including Th22 cells and their  cytokine IL-22 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE,which can be used  as a  bio-indicators for monitoring disease severity.

Key words:  , systematic lupus erythematosus, T helper 22 cell, interleukin-22