The abnormality and clinical significan ce of T helper 9 cells and interleukin-9 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To detect the expression of T helper cells 9 (Th9) in the peripheral blood and the level of interleukin (IL)-9 in the plasma of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients,and to analyze the relationship between Th9 and clinical characteristics,and their possible role in the immunological pathogenesis of RA were explored.Methods Thirty-six patients with RA and 22 healthy controls were included.RA patients were divided into high disease activity group (n=22) and moderate disease activity group (n=14).Th9 cells were obtained from RA patients and healthy controls and detected by flow cytometery.The levels of IL-9 in RA patients and healthy controls were detected by ELISA tests.T-test and Spearman's correlation were used for statistical analysis.Results The expression of Th9 and the level of IL-9 of RA patients [(0.99±0.50)％,( 1.06±0.42 ) pg/ml,respectively] were significantly higher than normal controls[ (0.21±0.08)％,(0.69±0.13)pg/ml,respectively,all P＜0.01 ].Meanwhile,the expression of Th9 and the level of IL-9 in high disease activity group [ ( 1.18±0.52 )％,( 1.37±0.47 ) pg/ml ] were higher than those of the moderate disease activity group [ (0.69±0.25)％,(0.94±0.30) pg/ml ].There were positive correlations between Th9 and disease activity score(DAS) 28,erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),C-reactive protein (CRP),the number of tender joints,the number of swollen joints and rheumatoid factor (RF),the level of IL-9 respectively.There were positive correlations between IL-9 and DAS28,ESR,the number of tender joints,and the number of swollen joints.Conclusion High expression of Th9 and level of IL-9 maybe involved in the pat-hogenesis of RA,and is associated with disease activity.These results indicate that the abnormality of Th9 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA.