title: Activity of T-helper cells in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the T-helper (Th1, Th2 and Th17) cell activity in the peripheral blood of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), non-Sjögren's sicca syndrome (nSS) and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 34 pSS, 13 nSS patients and 13 healthy controls were stimulated, labeled for cluster of differentiation-4 (CD4), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-17A and analyzed by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The activities of Th1 and Th17 cells in patients with pSS were similar to those of the control group. The percentage of both IFN-γ- and IL-17-producing Th17/Th1-like cells was significantly higher in the pSS, as compared to the control group, whereas that of Th2 cells was lower. A significant correlation was found between all Th-subset activities in the control group. However, in the pSS group, a correlation was found only between Th1 with Th2 and Th17 and Th17 with Th17/Th1-like.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The imbalance in Th-subset activities in peripheral blood may play a role in the pathogenesis of pSS.
authors: Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Center for Innovative Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors: Gintaras
authors: G
authors: Sudzius
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Mieliauskaite
authors: Irena
authors: I
authors: Butrimiene
authors: Almantas
authors: A
authors: Siaurys
authors: Zygmunt
authors: Z
authors: Mackiewicz
authors: Irena
authors: I
authors: Dumalakiene
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma