Correlation of human papillomavirus infection among Th17 cell, Treg cell and related cytokines in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Abstract

Objective To investigate the correlation of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection with Th17 cell, Treg cell and related cytokines in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Methods Total of 140 patients with CIN in Xinjiang Autonomous Region People’s Hospital from June 2017 and May 2018 were selected and divided into infection group (86 cases) and non-infection group (54 cases), according to whether with HPV infection. The expression of CD3, CD4 and CD8 were detected by immunochemistry methods. The T cells and T cell subsets (the percentage of CD3+ T cell, CD4+ T cell and CD8+ T cell), the percentage of Treg cell and Th17 cell (CD4+CD25+ Treg,CD8+CD25+CD127— Treg, CD4+Foxp3+ Treg, CD8+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg, CD4+IL17+ Th17 and Th17/Treg) and related cytokines [transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), IL-10, IL-17 and interferon (IFN)-γ] in the peripheral blood were compared between the two groups. The risk factors of HPV infection in CIN patients analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression model. Results No significant difference were found in the expression of CD3, CD4 and CD8 between the two groups. No significant difference were found in CD3+ T cell, CD4+ T cell and CD8+ T cell (t = 0.870, 1.509, 0.236; P = 0.385, 0.133, 0.813). The level of CD4+CD25+ Treg, CD8+CD25+CD127—Treg, CD4+Foxp3+ Treg, CD8+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg, CD4+IL17+ Th17 and Th17/Treg in infection group were significantly higher than those of non-infection group (all P < 0.05). The levels of TGF-β, IL-10 and IL-17 were significantly higher in infection group than those of non-infection group (t =-11.601, -42.251, -40.31; all P < 0.001); but the level of IFN-γ was significantly lower in infection group than that of non-infection group (t = 10.316, P < 0.001). Multivariate Logistic regression models showed that CD4+CD25+ Treg (OR = 3.673, P = 0.031), CD4+IL17+ Th17 (OR = 1.974, P = 0.021) and Th17/Treg (OR = 3.585, P = 0.024) were all risk factors for HPV infection for patients with CIN. IFN-γ was a protective factor for HPV infection for patients with CIN (OR = 2.812, P = 0.028). Conclusions There were correlation between HPV infection and Th17 cell, Treg cell and IFN-γ of CIN patients. CIN patients with HPV infection had increased Th17 cell and Treg cell and decreased IFN-γ. Key words: Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; Human papillomavirus; Th17 cell; Treg cell; Cytokine