Effect of CNOT7 Gene Knockdown on the Immune Microenvironment of HepG2 Cells by Reduced TGF-β1 Secretion / 中国医科大学学报

Objective To study the effect of human CCR4-NOT transcription complex subunit 7 (CNOT7) gene knockdown on the immune microenvironment of HepG2 cells and explore its significance. Methods We designed a cell transfection protocol and performed the experiment with three groups:CNOT7-targeted knockdown group, control group, and CNOT7 overexpression group. The transfection efficiency was assessed using inverted fluorescence microscopy, and the expression level of CNOT7, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 proteins was determined by Western blotting. The concentration of TGF-β1 secreted in the cell culture supernatant was measured by ELISA. The sensitivity of tumor cells to the killing function of natural killer (NK) cells was detected by flow cytometry. Results Compared with the control group, the expression level of TGF-β1 and NF-κB p65 proteins was significantly decreased in the CNOT7-targeted knockdown group, and the TGF-β1 concentration in the culture supernatant was also significantly reduced. However, in the CNOT7 overexpression group, the expression level of the two proteins and TGF-β1 concentration were significantly increased. NK cells were co-cultured with tumor cells, and the apoptosis rate of HepG2 cells transfected with CNOT7-specific shRNA was significantly increased. However, in the CNOT7 overexpression group, the apoptosis rate was significantly decreased. Conclusion CNOT7 forms the immune microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Targeted knockdown of CNOT7 can reduce TGF-β1 secretion and enhance the killing function of NK cells toward HepG2 cells.

Relationship between serum biomarker levels and severity of coronary atherosclerosis / 心血管康复医学杂志

Objective :To explore relationship between serum biomarker levels and severity of coronary atherosclerosis (CAS) ,and provide reference for diagnosis and treatment .Methods : A total of 160 CAS patients treated in our hos-pital from Apr 2012 to Nov 2016 were selected .According to plaque characteristics ,patients were divided into stable plaque group (n＝80) and unstable plaque group (n＝80) ,another 60 healthy subjects undergoing physical examina-tion simultaneously were selected as healthy control group .Serum biomarker levels were measured and compared a-mong three groups ,and their relationship with CAS severity were analyzed .Results : Along with CAS aggravated , there were gradual rise in serum levels of trasforming growth factor (TGF)-β ,tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α ,nu-clear factor (NF)-κB ,vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) ,recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth fac-tor (bFGF) ,monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 ,stroma-cell derivated factor (SDF)-1 ,chemokine re-ceptor (CXCR )-4 ,chemokine receptor (CCR )-2 ,Smad-1 ,Smad-2 ,Smad-3 ,peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ ,tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 ,TIMP-2 ,TIMP-3 ,healthy control group＜stable plaque group＜ unstable plaque group ,there existed significant difference between any two groups , P＝0-001 all.Compared with healthy control group ,there were significant rise in serum levels of Caspase-3 ,Caspase-6 and Bcl-2 related X protein (Bax) ,and significant reduction in Bcl2 level in stable and unstable plaque group , P＝0-001 all.Conclusion : Biomarkers ,such as TGF-β ,MCP-1 ,CXCR-4 etc .,are closely associated with severity of coronary atherosclerosis ,which can be used as important indexes for clinical treatment .

Distinct expression of chemokine-like factor 1 in synovium of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Chemokine-like factor 1 (CKLF1) is a newly cloned chemotactic cytokine with CCR4 being its functional receptor. Recent evidence demonstrates a role of CKLF1 in arthritis. The aim of this study was to quantify the expression of CKLF1 as well as assess the correlation between CKLF1 and plasma acute-phase markers. Synovium was obtained from 16 osteoarthritis (OA), 15 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 10 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty, with other 11 patients treated for meniscal tears during sport accidents serving as normal controls. Levels of CKLF1 and CCR4 mRNA were detected by qRT-PCR, and the expression of CKLF1 was investigated by immunohistochemistry staining, subsequently analyzed with semiquantitative scores. Plasma acute-phase markers of inflammation were determined by ELISA. CKLF1 was found with a particularly up-regulated expression in synovim from AS and RA patients, and CCR4 mRNA levels increased in RA patients, not in OA or AS patients. Elevated levels of plasma markers of inflammation including CRP, ESR and D-dimer were observed in RA. Further, significantly positive correlations between relative expression levels of CKLF1 and CRP/ESR in RA patients and a positive correlation between CKLF1 and ESR in AS patients were found. There was no detectable correlation between CKLF1 and plasma D-dimer. This study confirms an increased but different level of CKLF1 in RA, OA and AS patients, all significantly higher than that in controls. Additionally, the significant positive correlations between CKLF1 levels and CRP/ESR in RA and between CKLF1 and ESR suggest that CKLF1 might contribute to the inflammation state and clinical symptoms in these rheumatic diseases. Further studies are required to investigate the utility of targeting specific CKLF1 for symptom control or disease modification in RA and AS.

Relationship between the expression of CCR4 and invasion and metastasis of gallbladder cancer cell GbC-SD / 临床与实验病理学杂志

Purpose To investigate the effects of chemotactic factor CCR4 on the abi1ity of pro1iferation,ce11 cyc1e,invasion,and mi-gration of human ga11b1adder cancer ce11. Methods Western b1ot was used to detect the expression 1eve1 of CCR4 in ga11b1adder carci-noma ce11s. Ga11b1adder carcinoma ce11s was infected by means of s1ow virus,the CCR4 gene si1encing was conducted using siRNA-CCR4 interference techno1ogy. Ga11b1adder carcinoma ce11s GBC-SD were divided into three groups( GBC-SD,GBC-SD/CCR4-RNAi and GBC-SD/contro1). CCL17,a 1igand of CCR4,was used to act on these three groups of ce11s. CCK8 method was used to detect the ce11 pro1iferation abi1ity of three groups. F1ow cytometry was used to test ce11 cyc1e. Tanswe11 assay was app1ied to detect ce11 migration and invasion abi1ity. Western b1ot was performed to detect the expression of its corresponding 1igands CCL17 and CCL22 proteins. Re-sults CCR4 gene si1ence did not inf1uence ce11 cyc1e and pro1iferation of ga11b1adder ce11 GBC-SD,but can significant1y inhibit GBC-SD ce11 invasion and movement abi1ity,CCR4 gene si1ence had no inf1uence on the expression of CCL17 and CCL22 gene in tumor ce11s. Conclusion Ga11b1adder carcinoma ce11s GBC-SD express chemokine receptor CCR4,chemokine receptor CCR4 can promote the invasion and metastasis of GBC-SD ce11s.

Expression of CCR4 in gallbladder carcinoma tissues and its clinical significance / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective To study the expression of CCR4 in gallbladder carcinoma tissues,and to determine its relationship with clinical pathological factors and its influence on prognosis of gallbladder cancer.Methods The expressions of CCR4 in gallbladder carcinoma tissues,and chronic cholecystitis gallbladder mucosal tissues were detected using immune histochemical methods and they were analyzed together with the clinical records.Survival analysis was used to compare the expressions of CCR4 between the positive group and the negative group.Multiple factors analysis was carried out using the Cox regression model.Correlation between the expressions of CCR4 in gallbladder tissues and the clinical pathologic factors was done using the Chi-square test.Results CCR4 is expressed tan-yellow in gallbladder cell cytoplasm and/or cell membrane.The expression of CCR4 protein in the gallbladder carcinoma was obviously higher than in the chronic cholecystitis gallbladder epithelial tissues (P ＜ 0.05).A high expression of CCR4 was not correlated with patients' age,gender,pathological classification,distant metastasis and nerve/lymphatic invasion factors.It was,however correlated with tumor lymph node metastasis (P ＜ 0.05) and histological grading (P ＜ 0.05).Kaplan Meier survival analysis showed the postoperative survival between the CCR4 positive group and the negative group were significant different (P ＜0.05).On multiple factors analysis,CCR4 expression level was an independent risk factor of survival of patients after gallbladder surgery.Conclusions The chemokine receptor CCR4 expressed in gallbladder carcinoma.Its level of expression correlated with lymph node metastasis and histological grading.It was an independent risk factor of survival in patients with gallbladder carcinoma after surgery.As it was associated with invasion and metastasis of gallbladder carcinoma,antitumor treatment targeting CCR4 is expected to become a novel treatment of gallbladder carcinoma.

Expression and function of chemokine TARC/CCR4 at fetal-maternal interface in first trimester / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective To investigate the expression and function of thymus and activation regulated chemokine (TARC) and its special receptor CCR4 at placenta villous in the first trimester placenta villous.Methods Placenta villous was collected from healthy women undergoing artificial abortion at 6 to 8 weeks of gestation,mRNA levels of TARC,CCR4 were analyzed using semi-quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR methods.Immunohistochemistry assay was used to assess the protein localization and expression of TARC,CCR4.Additionally,extravillous cytotrophoblasts were isolated and cultured.Expression of TARC and CCR4 was measured by immunofluorescence assay.Invasion of cell line HTR8/SVneo was analyzed by transwell assay at concentration of 10,25,50 and 100 ng/ml of TARC matched with RPMI 1640 fetal bovine serum free eulture medium as control group.In the mean time,blocking experiment was also added to detect TARC regulating cell invasion,which were classified into four groups:control,100 ng/ml rhTARC,20 μg/ml anti-TARC + 100 ng/ml rhTARC,100 ng/ml rhTARC + 20 μg/ml IgG.The influence of 100 ng/ml TARC on expression level of integrin-α5 and integrin-β1 were measured by using western-blot assay.Results (1)In vivo assay:expression of TARC and CCR4 mRNA were detectable in first trimester placenta villous,TARC protein was localized in cytotrophoblasts,syncytiotrophoblasts and cell column especially on the distal portion,while CCR4 protein was localized on invading interstitial cytotrophobalsts.(2)In vitro assay:①TARC,CCR4 was also expressed in primary isolated extravillous cytotrophoblasts by immunofluorescence assay; ②Matrigel invasion assay demonstrated that TARC had specific dose dependent stimulatory effects on the cells invading through the matrigel precoated filter,the number of cells migration into the lower chamber were:142 ± 31 at 10 ng/ml group,161 ±46 at 25 ng/ml group,201 ±30 at 50 ng/ml group,312 ±48 at 100 ng/ml group,117 ± 33 at control group,the significant response observed from 25 ng/ml (P ＜ 0.05)and reached a peak effect at 100 ng/ml (P ＜ 0.01); ③Blocking experiment demonstrated that when trophoblast invasion was monitored in response to TARC neutralizing antibody (15 μg/ml) together with rhTARC 100 ng/ml.The stimulatory activity of rhTARC was completely overcome,with the cells invasion into the lower chambers were 100 ng/ml rhTARC,20 μg/ml anti-TARC + 100 ng/ml rhTARC,100 ng/ml rhTARC +20 μg/ml IgG,control:313 ±47,113 ±41,287 ±75 and 128 ±23,respectively;④Western-blot assay demonstrated that if cells were treated with 100 ng/ml rhTARC,the expression of integrin-α5 were significantly increased(P ＜0.01),integrin-β1 level also increased when compared with control(P ＜0.05).Conclusion TARC was expressed specifically at human fetal-maternal interface.Trophoblast invasion and migration mainly was regulated by up-regulation integrin-α5 and integrin-β1,which plays an role in trophoblasts differentiation and placentation.

Expression and clinical significance of CXCR4, CXCL12 and PTEN in breast cancer / 国际肿瘤学杂志

Objective To analyse the expressions and clinical significances of CXCR4,CXCL12 and PTEN in breast cancer.Methods The expressions of CXCR4,CXCL12 and PTEN in 60 cases of breast cancer were detected by immunohistochemistry technique SABC method.The correlations of levels of CXCR4,CXCL12 and PTEN expression and the age of patient,tumor diameter,histological grade,TNM stage,lymph node metastasis,ER status,Her-2 status,and vessel invasion were analysed.Twenty cases of breast fibroadenoma tissues and 20 cases of normal breast tissues were analysed as controls.Results The expressions of CXCR4 (x2 =48.754,P =0.000),CXCL12 (x2 =47.611,P =0.000) and PTEN (x2 =19.994,P =0.000) in breast cancer,normal breast tissues and breast fobroadenoma showed significant differences.The positive expressions of CXCR and CXCL12 were significantly correlated with histological grade (x2 =11.080,P =0.004;x2 =6.978,P =0.031),TNM stage (x2 =9.819,P =0.007;X2 =10.163,P =0.006),lymph node metastasis (x2 =6.213,P =0.013;x2 =8.031,P =0.005),ER (x2 =12.774,P =0.000;x2 =7.330,P=0.007),vessel invasion (x2 =5.860,P=0.013; x2 =5.185,P=0.020) and Her-2 (x2 =5.487,P =0.019;x2 =4.689,P =0.030).The expression of PTEN in breast cancer was significantly correlated with TNM stage (x2=7.366,P =0.025),lymph node metastasis (x2 =5.511,P =0.019) and ER state (x2 =4.077,P =0.043).There was a positive correlation between the expression of CXCR4 and the expression of CXCL12 in breast cancer (r =0.336,P =0.004).There was a negative correlation between the expression of CXCR4 and the expression of PTEN in breast cancer (r =-0.362,P =0.004).There was a negative correlation between the expression of CXCL12 and the expression of PTEN in breast cancer (r =-0.360,P =0.004).Conclusion The high expression of the chemokine CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 and the low expression of PTEN are closely related to the carcinogenesis and metastasis of breast cancer,which may play an important role in the development of breast cancer.

Severity of atopic dermatitis and Ascaris lumbricoides infection: an evaluation of CCR4+ and CXCR3+ helper T cell frequency / Gravidade da dermatite atópica e infecção por Ascaris lumbricoides: uma avaliação da frequência de células T auxiliares CCR4+ e CXCR3+

INTRODUCTION: Ascaris lumbricoides-infected patients present lower prevalence of severe atopic dermatitis. METHODS: Peripheral blood of infected children with atopic dermatitis was assessed by flow cytometry of the frequency of Th1 and Th2 cells through the expression of CXCR3 and CCR4 chemokine receptors, respectively. RESULTS: Helminth-free patients with atopic dermatitis presented a high frequency of CCR4+Th2 cells. Parasitized patients with atopic dermatitis showed a lower frequency of CXCR3+Th1 cells compared to infected individuals only. CONCLUSIONS: Ascariasis modifies the blood traffic of Th2 cells in atopic dermatitis patients, while the allergic disease down-regulates the traffic of Th1 cells in parasitized patients.

INTRODUÇÃO: Pacientes infectados com Ascaris lumbricoides apresentam menor prevalência de dermatite atópica grave. MÉTODOS: Sangue periférico de crianças infectadas com dermatite atópica foi analisado por citometria de fluxo quanto à frequência de células Th1 e Th2 pela expressão de receptores de quimiocina CXCR3 e CCR4, respectivamente. RESULTADOS: Pacientes sem helmintos com dermatite atópica apresentaram alta frequência de células Th2CCR4+. Pacientes parasitados com dermatite atópica apresentaram menor frequência de células Th1CXCR3+ comparados aos indivíduos apenas infectados. CONCLUSÕES: Ascaridiases altera o tráfego sanguíneo de células Th2 em pacientes com dermatite atópica, enquanto a doença alérgica diminui o tráfego de células Th1 em pacientes parasitados.

Screening of chemokine receptor CCR4 antagonists by capillary zone electrophoresis / 药物分析学报

CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) is a kind of G-protein-coupled receptor, which plays a pivotal role in allergic inflammation. The interaction between 2-(2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-5-{[(naphthalen-1-ylmethyl)-carbamoyl]-methyl}-4-oxo-thiazolidin-3-yl)-N-(3-morpholin-4-yl-propyl)-acetamide (S009) and the N-terminal extracellular tail (ML40) of CCR4 has been validated to be high affinity by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). The S009 is a known CCR4 antagonist. Now, a series of new thiourea derivatives have been synthesized. Compared with positive control S009, they were screened using ML40 as target by CZE to find some new drugs for allergic inflammation diseases. The synthesized compounds XJH-5, XJH-4, XJH-17 and XJH-1 displayed the interaction with ML40, but XJH-9, XJH-10, XJH-11, XJH-12, XJH-13, XJH-14, XJH-3, XJH-8, XJH-6, XJH-7, XJH-15, XJH-16 and XJH-2 did not bind to ML40.Both qualification and quantification characterizations of the binding were determined. The affinity of the four compounds was valued by the binding constant, which was similar with the results of chemotactic experiments. The established CEZ method is capable of sensitive and fast screening for a series of lactam analogs in the drug discovery for allergic inflammation diseases.

The Correlation between the Tc2 Cells and the CCR4 Expression and the PASI Score in the Peripheral Blood of Psoriasis Patients / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic relapsing skin disorder that is characterized by abnormal epidermal proliferation, inflammation and angiogenesis. It causes emotional and social consequences that go far beyond the skin; therefore, many methods to measure and monitor the severity of psoriasis have been reported. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the usability of the flow cytometric analysis of the T cell subsets and their chemokine receptors in the peripheral blood of the psoriasis patients as a severity index. METHODS: The T cell subsets and their chemokine receptor expression (CXCR3, CCR4) in the circulating blood of thirty psoriasis patients (PASI score:2.2~44.2) and twenty healthy controls were examined by flow cytometry. The relationship between the PASI score and the T cell subsets/chemokine receptors was also analyzed. RESULTS: The patients showed significantly higher number of Tc1 (CD8+CXCR3+), Tc2 (CD8+CCR4+) and CXCR3/CCR4 expressing cells than did the control group. Especially, the moderate to severe patients (a PASI score greater that 5) showed a higher number of Tc1, Tc2 and CCR4 expressing cells than did the control group. In the severe patients (a PASI score greater than 10), the frequency of circulating Tc2 cells and CCR4 expressing cells was directly correlated with the PASI score. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that flow cytometric analysis of the circulating T cell subsets with further classification could serve as an indicator of the disease severity in psoriasis patients.

Expression of Th1/Th2 chemokines and their receptors in the lesions of bullous pemphigoid / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To investigate the expression of Th1 chemokine CXCL9,CXCL10,CXCL11,Th2 chemokine CCL22 and their receptors in the lesions of bullous pemphigoid (BP).Methods:Immunohistochemical assay was performed to detect the expression of CXCL9,CXCL10,CXCL11,CCL22 and their receptors CXCR3 and CCR4 in BP lesions and normal control skin.Results:CXCL9,CXCL10,CXCL11,CCL22,CXCR3 and CCR4 were overexpressed in BP lesions than those in normal control skin (P＜0.01).The positive rates of CXCL9,CXCL10,CXCL11 and CXCR3 in BP lesions were 50%(15/30),46.7%(14/30),46.7%(14/30) and 53.3%(16/30),respectively.The positive rates of CCL22 and CCR4 were 66.7% (20/30) and 56.7% (17/30).Conclusion:The overexpression of Th1 chemokine CXCL9,CXCL10,CXCL11,Th2 chemokine CCL22 and their receptors may play important roles in the pathogenesis of BP.

Effect of the monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor (MLIF) produced by E. histolityca on cytokines and chemokine receptors in T CD4+ lymphocytes

Entamoeba histolytica produces Monocyte Locomotion Inhibitory Factor (MLIF), which may contribute to the delayed inflammation observed in amoebic hepatic abscesses. Leukocytes are affected through the modulation of cytokine expression and/or production. We evaluated the effects of MLIF on the activation and production of intracellular cytokines in human CD4+ T lymphocytes by flow cytometry. Cells were stimulated for 24 h with PMA, MLIF, or PMA+MLIF. Cellular activation was measured using anti-CD69. Th1/Th2 production was studied by the expression of intracellular cytokines and cytokine/chemokine receptors. MLIF increased CD69 and induced the over-expression of the IL-l©¬, IFN-¥ã, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 intracellular cytokines; PMA+MLIF inhibited Th1 cytokine (IFN-¥ã) and increased Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10). The co-expression of the cytokine and chemokine receptors IFN-¥ã/CCR5 and IL-1©¬/CCR5 was inhibited by PMA+MLIF and Th2 co-expression was increased. MLIF effects varied depending on the conditions. MLIF alone activated the Th1 and Th2 cytokines and cytokine/receptor expression; however, PMA+MLIF increased the expression of Th2 but inhibited it in Th1.

Selective addition of CXCR3+CCR4-CD4+ Th1 cells enhances generation of cytotoxic T cells by dendritic cells in vitro

Increasing importance is being given to the stimulation of Th1 response in cancer immunotherapy because its presence can shift the direction of adaptive immune responses toward protective immunity. Based on chemokine receptor expression, CXCR3+CCR4-CD4+ T cells as Th1-type cells were investigated its capacity in monocyte-derived dendritic cell (DC) maturation and polarization, and induction of antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in vitro. The levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 were decreased to the basal level compared with high production of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-2 in CXCR3+CCR4-CD4+ T cells stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies. Co-incubation of activated CD4+ or CXCR3+CCR4-CD4+ T cells with DC (CD4+/DC or CXCR3+CD4+/DC, respectively) particularly up-regulated IL-12 and CD80 expression compared with DC matured with TNF-alpha and LPS (mDC). Although there was no significant difference between the effects of the CXCR3+CCR4-CD4+ and CD4+ T cells on DC phenotype expression, CXCR3+CD4+/DC in CTL culture were able to expand number of CD8+ T cells and increased frequencies of IFN-gamma secreting cells and overall cytolytic activity against tumor antigen WT-1. These results demonstrated that the selective addition of CXCR3+CCR4-CD4+ T cells to CTL cultures could enhance the induction of CTLs by DC in vitro, and implicated on a novel strategy for adoptive T cell therapy.

Correlation between CD4~+CD25~+T cells and CCR4 in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

Objective To explore the immune function of the whole body and the tumor site of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients as well as its correlation with CCR4. Methods The ratios of CD4~+CD25~+T cells and CCR4+cells to lymphocytes were measured by flow cytometry in tissues (25 cases) and peripheral blood (35 cases) from nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, and then statistical analysis was made. Results The ratios of CD4~+CD25~+T cells and CCR4+ cells in tissue and peripheral blood of NPC were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). In NPC the ratios of the two cells in tissue were higher than in peripheral blood respectively (P<0.05), but there was no such difference between tissue and peripheral blood in the control group (P>0.05). The ratio of CD4~+CD25~+T cells in tissue at stage Ⅲ+Ⅳ was higher than that at stage Ⅰ+Ⅱ of NPC (P<0.05), but there was no such difference between the two stages in peripheral blood in NPC. There was a positive correlation between CD4~+CD25~+T cells and CCR4+ cells in tissue and peripheral blood of NPC (P<0.05). Conclusion NPC patients have different immunosuppression, and there is even more severe immunosuppression in the tumor site. The ratio of CD4~+CD25~+T cells is correlated with the stage of NPC. Therefore, as NPC progresses to later stages, the percentage of CD4~+CD25~+T cells is increased, which is correlated with poor prognosis. CCR4 plays an important role in reactant of CD4~+CD25~+T cells to tumor sites, and is resistant to immunosurveillance.

Roles of the chemokine CCL22 and its receptor CCR4 in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To investigate the expression of cellular chemokine CCL22 and its receptor CCR4, as well as its clinical significance in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), along with its roles in the pathogenesis of this disease. Methods Forty-eight patients with SLE and 26 normal human controls were recruited into this study. The patient cohort included 2 males and 46 females with an average age of 33.98± 12.73 years and disease course of 1 month to 20 years. Blood samples were collected from the subjects. ELISA and flow cytometry were used to examine the plasma concentration of CCL22 together with the CCR4 expression on peripheral blood cells. SLEDAI was applied to evaluate the severity of SLE patients. Results The plasma concentration of CCL22 was 227.03±122.84 ng/L in SLE group, 369.53±79.10 ng/L in the control group, 168.09±61.83 ng/L in patients with lupus nephritis and 292.77±163.45 ng/L in patients without lupus nephritis; there was a significant difference between the SLE patients and normal con-trols (P < 0.05) as well as between patients with lupus nephritis and those without (P < 0.05). Increased percentage of CCR4-expressing cells were observed in the peripheral blood of patients with SLE compared with the controls (20.24%±13.86% vs 10.44%±3.07%, P < 0.01), and the percentage of CD3+CCR4+ cells was significantly higher than that of CD3-CCR4+ cells. Moreover, a decrease was noted in the plasma con-centration of CCL22 in severe patients (P < 0.05). In SLE patients, the percentage of CCR4 increased with the rise in SLEDAI score, whereas the plasma concentration of CCL22 negatively correlated with SLEDAI score (r = -0.308, P < 0.05). Conclusion CCL22/CCR4 may play a certain role in the development, pro-gression and organ involvement in SLE.