Tim-3, PD-1, CD244 and Foxp3 Positive T Cells' Relation to the Prognosis of Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis Patients.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the frequency of circulating CD4+ T cells expressing PD-1+, TIM-3+ in polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) patients and its correlation with inflammatory factors, CD244+ and FOXP3+ T cell subtypes and prognosis. STUDY DESIGN: Observational study. Place and Duration of the Study Ganzhou people's Hospital, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China, from July 2019 to June 2021. METHODOLOGY: PM and DM patients were treated according to the institution's guidelines and followed up for 2 years. Fifty healthy volunteers were enrolled as controls. Serum interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-17, and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). TIM-3+, PD-1+, CD244+, and FOXP3+ expressions were measured using flow cytometry. Inability to live normally, recurrence or death was defined as poor prognosis. RESULTS: The ESR, ALT, AST, LDH and ferritin concentration in PM/DM patients were remarkably elevated than that in healthy volunteers. The frequencies of PD-1+, TIM-3+, CD244+, and FOXP3+ were all remarkably enhanced in PM/DM patients compared with the healthy volunteers. The frequencies of PD-1+, TIM-3+, FOXP3+, and TIM-3+/PD-1+ T cells were significantly elevated in the poor prognosis group compared with the good prognosis group. The frequency of CD4+TIM-3+PD-1+ had satisfactory diagnostic value for PM/DM patients with bad prognoses. IL-17, TIM-3+, PD-1+and TIM-3+ PD-1+ were the risk factors for PM/DM patients with bad outcomes. CONCLUSION: The frequency of circulating CD4+ T cells expressing TIM-3+PD-1+ could be used to predict the prognosis of PM/DM patients. KEY WORDS Tim-3, PD-1, Dermatomyositis, Polymyositis, Inflammatory.