TH SUBSETS AND SERUM CYTOKINES IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease. It is characterized by damage of cartilages and bones which results in destruction of joint function. Multi-organic disorders of lung, heart and kidney can be developed in time. Complex network of immune and stromal cells, cytokines and chemokines produced by these cells participate in onset of the disease, in the systemic active phase and during the transition to more localized inactive disease after the treatment. To evaluate the Th1, Th17, Tregs and CD4+CD39+ cells pattern and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood of patients with RA, 47 RA patients and 20 healthy individuals were included in the study. RA patients were divided into active and inactive RA groups. Frequencies of circulating Th1, Th17, Tregs and CD4+CD39+ cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Serum levels of cytokines: IL-6, IL-10, IL-4, IL-17, TNF-a and TGF-b1 were detected by ELISA. The results demonstrated an increase of Th1, Th17 cell frequencies in active RA patients, whereas Tregs remain unchanged in RA groups. CD39 marker expression shows significant decline in active RA patients in comparison with inactive RA group and controls. Concentrations of innate cytokines IL-6, TNF-a in the peripheral blood was significantly increased in active RA while according to IL-17/IL-21 serum concentration this group was divided into two subgroups. Anti-inflammatory cytokines TGF-b, IL-4 shows decrease in active RA group compared to healthy controls. Study demonstrated that development of RA is associated with changes of serum pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines which influence balance of T helpers subsets and could provide therapeutic opportunities.