title: IL-22+CD4+ T-cells in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Interleukin-22 (IL-22) is a regulator of autoimmune diseases. However, the role of IL-22(+)CD4(+) T-cells in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains unclear. This study is aimed at elucidating the potential role of IL-22 and IL-22(+)CD4(+) T-cells in patients with SLE. A total of 22 patients with freshly diagnosed SLE and 18 age-/gender-matched healthy controls (n = 18) were evaluated for the frequency of different types of IL-22-producing CD4(+) T-cells by flow cytometry analysis following in vitro stimulation. The concentrations of plasma IL-22, IL-17A, IFNγ, serum complement factors (C3, C4), C-reactive protein (CRP), antidouble-stranded (ds) DNA and anti-Smith (Sm) antibodies were measured. The potential association among these measures was analyzed. The percentages of IL-22(+)IL-17(-)IFNγ(-), IL-22(+)IL-17A(-)IFN-γ(+), IL-22(-)IL-17(+)IFN-γ(-) and IL-22(+)IL-17(+)IFN-γ(-) CD4(+) T-cells and the levels of plasma IL-22 and IL-17A in the patients were significantly higher than that in the healthy controls (P < 0.01). The frequency of Th22 cells was correlated positively with that of Th17 and IL-22(+)IL-17(+) CD4(+) T-cells, and the frequency of Th17 and IL-22(+)CD4(+) T-cells was correlated positively with the values of SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), but not with the values of CRP, ERS and C3 in SLE patients. Our data suggest that both Th17 and IL-22(+)CD4(+) T-cells may participate in the pathogenesis of SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, the First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhenyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yanfang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yandong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000032:analysis*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D044967:Serum / Q000737:chemistry; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D000097043:Interleukin-22
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D000097043:Interleukin-22