title: Regulatory T cells and TH1/TH2 cytokines as immunodiagnosis keys in systemic autoimmune diseases.
abstract: We assessed Helper T-cell involvement and possibilities to quantify the cell-based immune response in systemic autoimmune diseases (SAID) in 14 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 7 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The goals of investigation were T-CD4+/T-CD8+ ratio, regulatory T cells (Treg) status and TH1/TH2 serum cytokine profiles (IFN-gamma and IL-2, respectively IL-4 and IL-6). SLE group proved significant decreased average Treg value as compared to RA group and controls and showed significant low Treg incidence (86% patients). The distribution of high T-CD4+/T-CD8+ ratio registered no significant distinction among LES and RA groups. SAID patients presented low serum IFN-gamma (86% RA, 60% SLE), high IL-2 (57% RA) and high IL-6 (53% LES), but no significant IL-4 modification. We conclude that Treg percentage remains the only cellular criterion for SAID immune evaluation. In the same time, different secretion mechanisms seem to be involved in SAID, i.e. TH2 in SLE and TH1 in RA.
authors.affiliation: "Victor Babeş" National Institute of Pathology, Dept. Immunology, Bucharest, Romania. imunop@vbabes.ro
authors.forename: Cornel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ursaciuc
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Surcel
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ciotaru
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dobre
authors.forename: Ioana Ruxandra
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Pirvu
authors.forename: Adriana Narcisa
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Munteanu
authors.forename: Mihail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alecu
authors.forename: Radu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huică
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines