title: The relationship between Th1/Th2-type cells and disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the imbalance of Th1/Th2-type cytokines in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its relation to disease activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intracellular cytokines were determined by flow-cytometry following whole-blood culture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) > 10 had statistically significantly fewer CD4+ or CD8+ T cells producing IFN-gamma than patients with SLEDAI = 0, SLEDAI 1-10 or healthy controls (P < 0.01, P < 0.01 or P < 0.05, respectively). Patients with SLEDAI > 10 also had decreased ratio of IFN-gamma/IL-4 positive CD4+ or CD8+ T cells, compared with patients with SLEDAI = 0, SLEDAI 1-10 or healthy controls (P < 0.05). The decreased Th1 or Tc1 cells and the ratios of IFN-gamma: IL-4 positive CD4+ T-cells were significantly correlated with disease activity (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SLE is characterized by an imbalance of Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 cytokines. The decreased Th1 or Tc1 cells and the Th1/Th2 ratio are related to disease activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200001, China.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma