Study on the correlation between CD4+ CD25+ Tr cells and IL-17 levels in peripheral blood of patients with antiphospholipid syndrome

Abstract

Objective To explore the changes of Tr cells and IL-17 levels in peripheral blood of patients with antiphospholipid syndrome(APS) and the clinical significance. Methods The quantity of the CD4+ CD25+ Tr cells and proportion of CD4+ CD25+ Tr cells/CD4+ T cells were detected by flow cytomety, and the levels of IL-17 were detected by ELISA in 60 cases with APS(APS group) and 60 healthy people(control group). Results The levels of Tr, Tr/CD4+ , Foxp+ 3Tr/Tr in the APS group were (3.03±0.40)%, (0.11±0.02), (0.40±0.10), respectively, which in the control group were (5.76±0.84)%, (0.15±0.03), (0.73±0.15), respectively, the differences were statistically significant(t=22.73, 8.59, 14.18, all P<0.01). The levels of serum IL-17 and IL-17/Tr cells in APS group were (15.31±2.00)pg/mL, (5.05±0.29)pg/mL, respectively, which in the control group were (6.63±1.52)pg/mL, (1.15±0.14)pg/mL, respectively, there were statistically significant differences(t=29.17, 93.81, all P<0.05). The levels of serum IL-17 was negatively correlated with Tr cells level in peripheral blood of patients with APS(r=-0.801, P<0.01). Conclusion There is peripheral blood cellular immune function disorder in APS patients, the number and active changes of CD4+ CD25+ Tr cells and IL-17/Tr ratio imbalance may play a role in the pathogenesis of APS. Key words: Antiphospholipid syndrome; T-Lymphocytes, helper-inducer; Interleukin-17