T helper lymphocyte subsets and cytokines in children with systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis / 临床儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objectives To explore the changes of T helper (Th) lymphocyte and its related factors in children with syste-mic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SoJIA). Methods A total of 36 SoJIA inpatients, hospitalized from January 2012 to June 2013, were divided into active phase group and remission group. In addition, 20 healthy children were selected as normal con-trols. Th1, Th2 and Th17 cell ratios in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were detected and compared between each group by flow cytometry. Serum interferon-γ(INF-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-17 (IL-17) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The proportions of Th17 cells over CD3+CD8-cell were (3.30±2.15)%, (1.78±1.14)%and (1.22± 1.14)%in active phase group, remission group and control group. The difference among three groups was significant (H=14.437, P=0.001), and the active phase group had higher proportion of Th17 than the other two groups (P0.05). The serum IL-17 levels were (125.82 ± 45.87) pg/ml, (57.79±25.84)pg/ml and(50.02±18.37)pg/ml in active phase group, remission group and control group with signifi-cant difference among three groups (F=31.82, P=0.000), and the active phase group had higher level of IL-17 than the other two groups (P0.05). Conclusions Acquired cellular immunity is involved in pathogenesis of SoJIA, the increased proportion of Th1 and Th17 cell and the changes of related cytokines seem to correlate with active phage of SoJIA.