title: Detection, enumeration and characterization of T helper cells secreting type 1 and type 2 cytokines in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis.
abstract: One of the factors involved in the pathogenesis of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a cell-mediated immune response in which several cytokines seem to play a major role. The aim of this study was to detect, enumerate and characterize T helper cells which are secreting type 1 cytokines (interleukin [IL]-2, IL-12, interferon [IFN]-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha) and type 2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10) in the peripheral blood of patients with RAS. Thirty-two patients in the active phase of RAS (14 men and 18 women) and 40 healthy individuals participated in the study. T helper (T) cells were detected and characterized using Elispot assay. T cells secreting IL-2, IL-12 or IFN-gamma were increased in patients with RAS compared with the controls (p < 0.05, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). T cells secreting TNF-alpha in RAS patients and controls were not statistically different (p > 0.05). T cells secreting IL-10 were increased in patients with RAS compared with the controls (p < 0.05). T cells secreting IL-4 were decreased in patients with RAS compared with the controls (p < 0.001), No statistical difference was observed between T cells secreting IL-5 or IL-6 in patients with RAS and controls. Our findings suggest that the increased numbers of T cells secreting type 1 cytokines may influence the immune response against RAS. Whether this action is of etiological importance or epigenetic phenomenon is a question that needs to be answered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine & Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Albanidou-Farmaki
authors.forename: Anastasios K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Markopoulos
authors.forename: Filanthi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kalogerakou
authors.forename: Demetrios Z
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Antoniades
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D016207:Cytokines / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines