Expression of gamma-delta T cells in immune microenvironment in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura / 中国当代儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To study the role of gamma-delta T (γδ T) cells and its subsets in the immunopathogenesis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) in children, and to provide new ideas for the treatment of HSP in children from the aspect of γδ T cell regulation.@*METHODS@#A total of 33 children with HSP were enrolled as the HSP group, and 21 healthy children were enrolled as the healthy control group. The percentages of γδ T cells and its subsets Vδ1 T and Vδ2 T cells among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were measured, as well as the apoptosis rate of γδ T cell and plasma level of interleukin-17 (IL-17).@*RESULTS@#Compared with the healthy control group, the HSP group had significantly lower percentages of lymphocytes in PBMCs and Vδ2 T cells in γδ T cells (P<0.05). The HSP group had significantly higher percentage of Vδ1 T cells in γδ T cells and plasma level of IL-17 than the healthy control group. The HSP group had a significantly higher overall apoptosis rate of γδ T cells than the healthy control group (P<0.05), especially early apoptosis. The percentage of Vδ2 T cells was positively correlated with overall apoptosis rate (r=0.615, P<0.05) and was negatively correlated with IL-17 level (r=-0.398, P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Vδ1/Vδ2 T cell immune imbalance mediated by γδ T cells and over-activation of IL-17 may be involved in the development of HSP, among which the disturbance of immune tolerance induced by Vδ2 T cells plays an important role in the pathophysiology of the disease.