Expression level of Th22 cells and its cytokines in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and its significance

Abstract

This study was purposed to analyze the expression level of Th22 cells and their cytokines in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and evaluate its significance. Forty-eight patients with ALL were selected. According to the treatment, all patients were divided into the newly diagnosed group (n = 26) and complete remission (CR) group (n = 22). The proportion of Th22 cells in peripheral blood was detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The expression levels of cytokines IL-22, IL-6, TNF-α and TGF-β in peripheral blood were measured by ELISA. The expression level of IL-22 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was examined by semi-quantitative-reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Meanwhile, 30 healthy individuals were selected as a control group. The parameters of the 3 groups were compared. The results showed that the percentage of Th22 cells and the expression levels of IL-22, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-22 mRNA in newly diagnosed group and the CR group were significantly lower than that in control group, the expression level of TGF-β in above mentioned two group was obviously higher than that in control group (P < 0.05). The percentage of Th22 cells and the expression levels of IL-22, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-22 mRNA in newly diagnosed group were evidently lower than that in CR group (P < 0.05), but the expression level of TGF-β in newly diagnosed group obviously higher than that in CR group. The expression level of IL-22 in newly diagnosed group was positively related with expression level of IL-6 and TNF-α, but it was negatively related with expression level of TGF-β. It is concluded that the decreasing of Th22 cells and down-regulation of IL-22 expression level may be related with pathogenesis of ALL, the decreasing of Th22 cells is risk factor for ALL.