Study on the expression and significance of Th1/Th2 cells in the blood of patients with primary gouty arthritis

Abstract

Objective This study is aimed to investigate the possible role of Th1/Th2 cell in the pathogenesis of primary gout arthritis. Methods The peripheral blood of 21 acute gout patients (AG), 20 intermittent gout patients (IG) and 20 healthy controls (HC) were collected. The clinical data and laboratory indicators of them were enrolled. The percentages of Th1 and Th2 cells were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The expression of GATA-3, T-bet, IL-4 and interferon (IFN)-γ mRNA in Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were measured using Real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The protein expression levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA). The measurement data were compared by one factor analysis of variance test. The correlation between variables was used by Spearman correlation analysis. Results The percentage of Th1 cells in peripheral blood of the AG group was [(23.2±8.3)%], and the IG group was [(20.5±9.3)%], which were significantly higher (F=6.520, P<0.05) than the percentage of HC group [(14.8±3.8)%]. There was no significant difference between AG group and IG group. The percentage of Th2 cells in peripheral blood of AG group were [(1.9±0.7)%], which was significantly lower (F=8.267, P<0.05) than and the percentage of HC group [(3.4±1.8)%] and IG group [(3.3±1.2)%]. There was no significant difference between the IG group and the HC group. And the proportion of TH1/Th2 cells in the AG group was higher than that of the IG group and the HC group (F=10.406, P<0.01). The expression of T-bet mRNA and IFN-γ mRNA in the AG group and IG group were higher than that in the HC group (F=4.942, P=0.010)、(F=4.458, P=0.016). However, there was no significant difference between IG group and AG group. The expression of GATA-3 mRNA and IL-4 mRNA was significantly lower (F=3.564, P=0.035) (F=5.385, P=0.007) in the AG group and IG group when compared to the HC group. And there was no significant difference between the AG and the IG group. The IFN-γ level increased in the AG and IG group compared to the HC group (F=7.659, P=0.001). The IL-4 levels in the AG group was lower (F=7.099, P=0.002) than those of the IG and HC group. Conclusion Th1 cells in the peripheral blood of patients with GA are increased and accompanied with the decrease of Th2 cells. The results of this study suggest that the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cells in the inflammatory and immune response plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of GA. Key words: Arthritis, gouty; Th1 cells; Th2 cells; GATA-3; T-bet