Imbalance of Peripheral Blood T Helper Type 17 Responses in Patients with Vitiligo.

There is growing evidence to suggest that Th cells play pivotal roles in a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases, including vitiligo. However, the exact role of different subsets of Th cells in the pathogenesis of vitiligo is still a question. The purpose of present study was to determine the mRNA expression level of Th17 master transcription factor retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptors gamma (RORÉ£t) and cytokine mRNA and protein expression profiles of Th17 cells. 22 patients with vitiligo and 22 normal subjects were enrolled in the study. Gene expression profiles of freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR). Plasma concentrations of IL-17A and IL-22 were also assayed using ELISA kits. The results showed that RORÉ£t, IL-17A and IL-22 mRNA expression were increased in patients remarkably compared to healthy controls (p<0.05). Furthermore, plasma IL-17A and IL-22 levels were also higher in vitiligo patients versus controls (p<0.001). These data suggest that a deregulated Th17 adaptive immune response may contribute to the pathogenesis of vitiligo.

The potential role of Th17 lymphocytes in patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder, characterized by increased keratinocyte proliferation due to abnormal differentiation of basal keratinocytes. The etiology of the disease is unclear, and according to the survey results, it is hypothesized that a combination of genetic and environmental factors prompts an abnormal immune response in patients with psoriasis. CD4+ Th cells play a multifaceted role in both immune defense and pathogenesis of certain diseases such as psoriasis. Nonetheless, the exact contribution of different subpopulations of Th cells in psoriasis is still not clear. OBJECTIVE: The aim of present study was to determine the mRNA expression level of RORC as potential inducer of Th17 cell differentiation and expression pattern of Th17-signature cytokines (IL-17A and IL-22). METHODS: Twenty patients with psoriasis and twenty-one healthy subjects were included in the study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were separated and expression of three genes were determined by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR). Plasma levels of IL-17 and IL-22 were also evaluated by ELISA. RESULTS: RORC, IL-17A and IL-22 gene expression was significantly higher in patients with psoriasis compared with healthy controls (P<0.05). In addition, a marked increase in plasma IL-17A and IL-22 levels was observed in patient group compared to controls (P<0.001). STUDY LIMITATIONS: small number of patients. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that Th17 response may contribute to the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

The potential role of Th17 lymphocytes in patients with psoriasis

Abstract: Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder, characterized by increased keratinocyte proliferation due to abnormal differentiation of basal keratinocytes. The etiology of the disease is unclear, and according to the survey results, it is hypothesized that a combination of genetic and environmental factors prompts an abnormal immune response in patients with psoriasis. CD4+ Th cells play a multifaceted role in both immune defense and pathogenesis of certain diseases such as psoriasis. Nonetheless, the exact contribution of different subpopulations of Th cells in psoriasis is still not clear. Objective: The aim of present study was to determine the mRNA expression level of RORC as potential inducer of Th17 cell differentiation and expression pattern of Th17-signature cytokines (IL-17A and IL-22). Methods: Twenty patients with psoriasis and twenty-one healthy subjects were included in the study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were separated and expression of three genes were determined by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR). Plasma levels of IL-17 and IL-22 were also evaluated by ELISA. Results: RORC, IL-17A and IL-22 gene expression was significantly higher in patients with psoriasis compared with healthy controls (P<0.05). In addition, a marked increase in plasma IL-17A and IL-22 levels was observed in patient group compared to controls (P<0.001). Study limitations: small number of patients. Conclusion: These data suggest that Th17 response may contribute to the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Study of Th1/Th2 balance in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with alopecia areata.

Alopecia areata represents an autoimmune pathological process driven primarily by cellular aberrations contained within the immune system, which activates various humoral and cellular elements of the immune response. The aim of this study was to determine the mRNA expression levels of T-bet and GATA-3 as potential inducers of T helper (Th)1 and Th2 differentiation, respectively, as well as Th1(IFN-γ) and Th2(IL-4) cytokine mRNA expression in patients with alopecia areata. Using real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), the relative amounts of T-bet, GATA-3, IFN-γ, and IL-4 mRNA transcripts were determined in PBMCs from 20 Iranian patients with alopecia areata and compared with those of 20 healthy control subjects. In comparison with the normal group, T-bet and IFN-γ mRNA expression levels were significantly up-regulated in the alopecia areata patients, while GATA-3 and IL-4 mRNA expression levels were down-regulated. Notably, positive correlation (P < 0.05) was found between IFN-γ and T-bet levels in patients and controls. In addition, significant positive correlations existed between GATA-3 and IL-4 (P < 0.05). These results indicate that a Th1/Th2 imbalance exists in alopecia areata, and it may be implicated in the pathogenesis of disease.

Expression patterns of Th1/Th2 transcription factors in patients with guttate psoriasis.

Many lines of evidence propose that psoriasis is a T cell-mediated disease where T cell activation is followed by secretion of inflammatory cytokines. To elucidate the functional state of T cells in guttate psoriasis, we analysed mRNA expression levels of T-bet and GATA-3 for Th1 and Th2 differentiation, respectively together with Th1 (IFN-γ) and Th2 (IL-4) cytokine mRNA expression. Relative quantification of T-bet, GATA-3, IFN-γ and Th2, and IL-4 transcripts in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) was conducted by real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). Serum levels of IFN-γ and Th2 and IL-4 were also determined by ELISA. GATA-3 and IL-4 mRNA expression levels were lower in psoriatic patients as compared to normal healthy controls. The expression levels of T-bet and IFN-γ and Th2 genes were relatively similar in the patients and controls. In addition, a marked decrease in plasma IL-4 levels was observed in the psoriasis group, while no differences were observed with regard to levels of IFN-γ and Th2 between patients and normal subjects. Furthermore, a clear correlation between decreased IL-4 mRNA expression and IL-4 (P < 0.05) was revealed. These results suggested that altered balance between Th1 and Th2 cells transcription factor genes and they products may be implicated in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.