Changes and their significance of vitamin D, T helper cell 17 and regulatory T cells and associated cytokines in adolescents with multiple sclerosis / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the function of the expression rate of vitamin D, T helper cell 17 (Th17) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) and the serum level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in the pathogenesis of adolescents with multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods:Thirty-eight adolescent patients diagnosed with MS in the Department of Pediatrics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from January 2010 to December 2020 were selected as the MS group, and 38 healthy adolescents matched with age and body mass index were selected as healthy control group.The level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 [25-(OH)D 3] was measured by liquid chromatograph; the expression rates of Th17 and Tregs were measured by flow cytometry; the serum levels of TNF-α and MCP-1 were measured by immunofluorescence.SPSS 22.0 statistical software was adopted to analyze the differences between the above indicators and their correlation in the MS group and the healthy control group. Results:There was no difference in the level of 25-(OH)D 3 in peripheral blood between the MS group and the healthy control group( P>0.05). As for the MS group, the expression rate of Th17 was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group [(3.02±0.20)% vs.(1.99±0.16)%, t=12.03, P<0.05]; the expression rate of Tregs in peripheral blood was significantly lower than that in the healthy control group [(4.63±0.77)% vs.(5.10±0.90)%, t=14.65, P<0.05]; the ratio of Th17 to Tregs was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (0.25±0.07 vs.0.17±0.05, t=16.89, P<0.05); the levels of TNF-α and MCP-1 in peripheral blood were higher than those in the healthy control group [(26.13±5.98) ng/L vs.(24.45±3.01) ng/L; (122.26±37.71) ng/L vs.(87.95±17.66) ng/L, t=1.986, 47.650, all P<0.05]. In the MS group, 25-(OH)D 3 in peripheral blood was not correlated with other test indicators; the levels of TNF-α and MCP-1 were higher in patients with relapsing or progressive disease than in patients with stable disease in remission [(17.49±3.94) ng/L vs.(14.45±3.81) ng/L; (90.42±23.06) ng/L vs.(77.55± 20.56) ng/L, t=1.990, 2.472, all P<0.05]; the expression rate of Th17 cells was positively correlated with the level of TNF-α and MCP-1 in peripheral blood ( r=0.478, 0.442, all P<0.05); the expression rate of Tregs was negatively correlated with the level of TNF-α and MCP-1 in peripheral blood ( r=-0.318, -0.356, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Th17 and Tregs may be involved in the immunopathological mechanisms in the pathogenesis of adolescents with MS; changes in associated cytokines may be involved in the regulation of Th17 and Tregs changes and the inflammatory response; Th17 and Tregs and associated cytokine changes may play an important role in the occurrence, progression, and relapse progression of MS as an immunopathological mechanism.