Effects of splenectomy on peripheral blood Th17 cells and immune function in patients with portal hypertension / 临床肝胆病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of splenectomy on peripheral immune cells including Th17 cells in patients with portal hy-pertension and to analyze the influence of splenectomy on their immune function.Methods Twenty-five portal hypertension patients trea-ted with splenectomy in No.180 Hospital of PLA from June 2012 to June 2014 were selected as observation group,and 25 healthy controls who underwent physical examination in the same period as control group.Flow cytometry was used to determine the percentages of CD3 , CD4,and CD8 T lymphocytes,CD4/CD8 ratio,and percentage of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of portal hypertension patients (1 day before operation and at 7 days,1 month,and 3 months after operation)and healthy controls.ELISA was used to evaluate the changes in ser-um interleukin-6 (IL-6),interleukin-17 (IL-17),and interleukin-23 (IL-23).Comparison between groups was made by one-way ANOVA and LSD-t test.Results Before splenectomy,the portal hypertension patients had significantly lower percentages of CD3, CD4,and CD8 T lymphocytes and CD4/CD8 ratio (P0.05 for all).At 7 days,1 month,and 3 months after operation,the percentage of Th17 cells and levels of their associated inflammatory cytokines (IL-6,IL-17,and IL-23)in portal hypertension patients decreased gradually (P<0.05 for all).Conclusion Th17 cells and their associated inflammatory cytokines (IL-6,IL-17,and IL-23)are reduced in portal hy-pertension patients treated with splenectomy,so their immune function can be improved.