title: Elevated Th22 cells correlated with Th17 cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  T-helper (Th) 22 and Th17 cells are implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. The roles of Th22 cells in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remain unsettled.
  
  
  METHODS
  CD4(+)IFNγ(-)IL17(-)IL-22(+) T cells (Th22 cells), CD4(+)IFNγ(-)IL-22(-)IL17(+) T cells (pure Th17 cells), CD4(+)IL17(+) T cells (Th17 cells), and CD4(+)IFNγ(+) T cells (Th1 cells) in RA, osteoarthritis patients, and healthy controls were examined by flow cytometry. Plasma IL-22 and IL-17 levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Th22 cells, pure Th17 cells, Th17 cells, and interleukin-22 were significantly elevated in RA patients compared with osteoarthritis and healthy controls, but there were no significant differences regarding Th1 cells and interleukin-17. Th22 cells showed a positive correlation with interleukin-22 as well as pure Th17 cells or Th17 cells in RA patients. Additionally, the percentages of Th22 cells, pure Th17 cells as well as Th17 cells correlated positively with both C-reactive protein levels and 28-joints disease activity score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Together, our results indicated a possible role of Th22 pure Th17 cells and Th17 cells in RA, and blockade of the interleukin-22 may be a reasonable therapeutic strategy for RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xin-Guang
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Dao-Xin
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Nai-Wen
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yong-Gang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Mei-Xiang
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: A-Lei
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Guang-Hui
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D000097043:Interleukin-22
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D020381:Interleukin-17; D007378:Interleukins; D000097043:Interleukin-22