[Expression of regulatory T cells and Th17 cells in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and its significance].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of regulatory T cells and Th17 cells in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and its significance.


METHODS
The quantity of CD4(+)CD25(+)T cells, CD4(+)CD25(high) T cells and CD4(+) IL-17(+)T cells in peripheral blood were measured with flow cytometry (FCM), the plasma level of IL-10 and IL-17 with ELISA and the expression of Foxp3 mRNA and RORc mRNA with RT-PCR in 29 newly diagnosed ITP patients and 28 healthy controls.


RESULTS
The ratio of CD4(+)CD25(+)T cells/CD4(+) T cells in the peripheral blood of ITP patients was significantly higher than that of the normal controls (P < 0.05). And the ratio of CD4(+)CD25(high) T/CD4(+) T cells in the patients was remarkably lower (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the percentage of CD4(+) IL-17(+)T/CD4(+) T cells between ITP patients and controls (P > 0.05). The ratio of Treg/Th17 was lower in ITP patients (P < 0.05). The plasma level of IL-10 in ITP patients was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), whereas no statistical difference was observed in the level of IL-17 (P > 0.05). The Foxp3 mRNA expression levels were largely reduced (P < 0.05), but the RORc mRNA expression was increased compared with that in controls (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The imbalance of Treg/Th17 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ITP.
Department of Hematology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China.
Ning-Hong
NH
Guo
Qing-Zhi
QZ
Shi
Jian-Yuan
JY
Hua
Zhen-Jiang
ZJ
Li
Jian
J
Li
Wen-Feng
WF
He
Qiong
Q
Wu
D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000097:blood; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000378:metabolism; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000378:metabolism
D020381:Interleukin-17; D016753:Interleukin-10