Abstract
Background Previous studies demonstrated that the subsets of CD4+ T helper (Th) cells are closely related to vascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and hypertension. This study is aimed at investigating the circulating Th1, Th2, Th9, Th17, Th22, and Treg levels in aortic dissection (AD) patients. Methods Blood samples from AD (n = 56) and non-AD (NAD, n = 24) patients were collected, and the circulating levels of Th1, Th2, Th9, Th17, Th22, and Treg cells and their transcription factors and functional cytokines were measured by flow cytometric analysis, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. In addition, the human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) were treated with saline, angiotensin II (Ang II), or plasma from AD patients. Results Compared with the levels in the NAD group, the Th1, Th9, Th17, Th22, and their transcription factor levels were increased and the Th2, Treg, and their transcription factor levels exhibited a decreasing trend in AD patients. In addition, higher IFN-γ, IL-9, IL-17, and IL-22 levels and lower IL-4 and IL-35 levels were observed in AD patients. Simple linear regression analysis and binary logistic regression analysis suggested that Th1/IFN-γ, IL-9, Th17/IL-17, and Th22/IL-22 positively regulated the occurrence of AD, while Th2/IL-4 and Treg/IL-35 negatively regulated the occurrence of AD. Plasma from AD patients further increased Bax mRNA levels but decreased Bcl2 and α-SMA mRNA levels in Ang II-treated HASMCs. Conclusions Changes in Th1, Th2, Th9, Th17, Th22, and Treg activity are associated with the onset of AD. Different subsets of CD4+ T cells play different roles in the presence of AD.
Highlights
Aortic dissection (AD) is a rare but dangerous clinical emergency that can result in extremely high mortality, especially when torn sections accumulate in the aortic arch [1]
No significant differences in gender, age, smoking, poor blood pressure control (PBPC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), heart rate (HR), time intervals between chest pain onset and the collection of blood samples, and medications were found between the NAD and aortic dissection (AD) groups
The circulating levels of each subset of CD4+ T cells were analyzed by flow cytometry, and the results showed that Th1, Th9, Th17, and Th22 levels were significantly increased in AD patients compared with the levels in NAD patients (Figures 1(a) and 1(c)), while lower Th2 and Treg levels were found in the AD group (Figures 1(a), 1(b), and 1(d))
Summary
Aortic dissection (AD) is a rare but dangerous clinical emergency that can result in extremely high mortality, especially when torn sections accumulate in the aortic arch [1]. Th1, Th2, Th9, Th17, Th22, and Treg cells are involved in inflammatory responses and immune regulation mainly through the Mediators of Inflammation secretion of interferon- (IFN-) γ, IL-4, IL-9, IL-17, IL-22, and IL-35, respectively. This study is aimed at investigating the circulating Th1, Th2, Th9, Th17, Th22, and Treg levels in aortic dissection (AD) patients. Blood samples from AD (n = 56) and non-AD (NAD, n = 24) patients were collected, and the circulating levels of Th1, Th2, Th9, Th17, Th22, and Treg cells and their transcription factors and functional cytokines were measured by flow cytometric analysis, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. The human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) were treated with saline, angiotensin II (Ang II), or plasma from AD patients. Different subsets of CD4+ T cells play different roles in the presence of AD
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
