title: T helper 17 cell population in lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Lupus erythematosus (LE) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that involves many organs and systems. Immunological factors seem to play a key-role in LE pathogenesis. LE patients have T lymphocytes dysfunctions.Th17 is implicated in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases like psoriasis, multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the circulating Th17 cell population in LE patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 15 LE patients were recruited and divided into three groups: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), discoid lupus (DLE) and subacute lupus (SCLE). Serum IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-23 were detected. Th17 circulating cells were evaluated by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum IL-17A and IL-17F levels were higher in SLE, DLE and SCLE patients compared to healthy controls. The number of Th17 cells were higher in SLE and DLE patients (p<0.05). the number of CD3+IL-17+ cells were higher in SLE, DLE and SCLE patients (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Th17 lymphocytes are implicated in LE pathogenesis. Our findings suggest that IL-17 is implicated not only in SLE but also in DLE and SCLE immunopathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania. plbalanescu@gmail.com
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bălănescu
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bălănescu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tănăsescu
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicolau
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tănăsescu
authors.forename: Camelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grancea
authors.forename: Codruţa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vagu
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruţă
authors.forename: Coralia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bleoţu
mesh_terms: D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood*; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000097:blood*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17