The ratio of circulating regulatory T cells (Tregs)/Th17 cells is associated with acute allograft rejection in liver transplantation.
CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) and Th17 cells are known to be involved in the alloreactive responses in organ transplantation, but little is known about the relationship between Tregs and Th17 cells in the context of liver alloresponse. Here, we investigated whether the circulating Tregs/Th17 ratio is associated with acute allograft rejection in liver transplantation. In present study, thirty-eight patients who received liver transplant were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups: acute allograft rejection group (Gr-AR) (n = 16) and stable allograft liver function group (Gr-SF) (n = 22). The frequencies of circulating Tregs and circulating Th17 cells, as well as Tregs/Th17 ratio were determined using flow cytometry. The association between Tregs/Th17 ratio and acute allograft rejection was then analyzed. Our results showed that the frequency of circulating Tregs was significantly decreased, whereas the frequency of circulating Th17 cells was significantly increased in liver allograft recipients who developed acute rejection. Tregs/Th17 ratio had a negative correlation with liver damage indices and the score of rejection activity index (RAI) after liver transplantation. In addition, the percentages of CTLA-4(+), HLA-DR(+), Ki67(+), and IL-10(+) Tregs were higher in Gr-SF group than in Gr-AR group. Our results suggested that the ratio of circulating Tregs/Th17 cells is associated with acute allograft rejection, thus the ratio may serve as an alternative marker for the diagnosis of acute rejection.
Research Center for Liver Transplantation, Beijing 302 Hospital, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China; Research Centre for Liver Transplantation, Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing, China.
Ying
Y
Wang
Research Centre for Liver Transplantation, Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing, China.
Min
M
Zhang
Research Centre for Liver Transplantation, Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing, China.
Zhen-Wen
ZW
Liu
The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
Wei-Guo
WG
Ren
Research Center for Liver Transplantation, Beijing 302 Hospital, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China; Research Centre for Liver Transplantation, Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing, China.
Yan-Chao
YC
Shi
Research Centre for Liver Transplantation, Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing, China.
Yan-Ling
YL
Sun
Research Centre for Liver Transplantation, Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing, China.
Hong-Bo
HB
Wang
Research Center for Biological Therapy, Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing, China.
Lei
L
Jin
Research Center for Biological Therapy, Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing, China.
Fu-Sheng
FS
Wang
Research Center for Liver Transplantation, Beijing 302 Hospital, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China; Research Centre for Liver Transplantation, Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing, China.
Ming
M
Shi
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D064591:Allografts; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation