title: Different levels of circulating Th22 cell and its related molecules in Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to make a comparative analysis of the possible different expression of Th22 cells in two subtypes of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), i.e., Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT).
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 61 AITDs patients (31 GD and 30 HT) and 22 controls. Serum level of IL-22 was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The proportion of Th22 cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was analyzed by flow cytometry. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of IL-22, its receptors (IL10R2, IL22R1) and key transcription factor (aryl hydrocarbon receptor, AHR) in PBMCs were assayed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Several cytokines of the cultured PBMCs were also measured under IL-22 stimulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of Th22 cells, serum IL22 level and IL-22 mRNA expression were significantly higher in patients with GD than in healthy controls. Additionally, AHR increased in GD patients compared to healthy controls. However, the elevation of Th22 cells and their relative cytokines was not found in patients with HT. Consistent with specific mRNAs expression of cultured PBMCs, IL-4 increment in supernatant was much higher in GD group than in control group, while IFN-γ levels were decreased under IL-22 stimulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Th22 cells may participate in the pathogenesis of AITDs as a proinflammatory factor, especially in GD, through expressing and secreting IL-22.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an 710061, China.
authors.forename: Rong-Hua
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Xi'an Health School Xi'an 710054, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Yun
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an 710061, China ; Department of Endocrinology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University 1508 Longhang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai 201508, China.
authors.forename: Qiu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an 710061, China ; Department of Endocrinology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University 1508 Longhang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai 201508, China.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an 710061, China ; Department of Endocrinology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University 1508 Longhang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai 201508, China.
authors.forename: Fatuma-Said
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Muhali
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University 1508 Longhang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai 201508, China.
authors.forename: Liang-Feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University 1508 Longhang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai 201508, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Juan
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University 1508 Longhang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai 201508, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University 1508 Longhang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai 201508, China.
authors.forename: Dan-Feng
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University 1508 Longhang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai 201508, China.
authors.forename: Jin-An
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000097043:Interleukin-22
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D000097043:Interleukin-22
keywords: Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs); Graves’ disease (GD); Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT); T helper 22 (Th22) cell; interleukin 22 (IL-22)