Peripheral Levels And Clinical Significance Of Th17/Treg Cells Associated Cytokines In Patients With GVHD

Object To investigate levels and clinical significance of Th17/Treg cells associated cytokines in patients with acute graf versus host disease (aGVHD) or chronic graf versus host disease (cGVHD).Method Blood samples were collected from hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation patients and healthy donors, in which 10 patients were aGVHD, 13 patents cGVHD, 16 patients no GVHD and 20 patients healthy people. Th17/Treg associated cytokines such as IFNγ,IL-4,IL-6, IL- 10,TGF-β1,IL-17,IL-23 were detected by ELISA.Result (1) The serum levels of IFN-γ,IL-4,IL-6,IL-17 and IL-23 in a/cGVHD group were significantly higher than no GVHD group and healthy group(P<0.05) while IL-10 and TGF-β1 were lower (P<0.05). (2)After a/cGVHD patients were treated effectively, The serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17 and IL-23 were significantly decreased while IL-10, TGF-β1 were significantly increased. There were statistical significant differences(P<0.05) except IFN-γand IL-4(P>0.05). (3)There were negative correlations between TGF-β1 and IL-6 (r=-0.36, P<0.05), TGF-β1 and IL-17(r=-0.51, P<0.05), TGF-β1 and IL-23(r=-0.44, P<0.05), while positive correlations between IL-6 and IL-17(r=0.62, P<0.05), IL-6 and IL-23(r=0.71, P<0.05), IL-17 and IL-23(r=0.93, P<0.05).Conclution Significant increase of of peripheral plasma IFN-γ,IL-4,IL-6,IL-17 and IL-23 and significant decrease of plasma IL-10 and TGF-β1 in a/c GVHD groups suggested that Th17/Treg cells associated cytokines might play an important role in the occurrence and development of a/cGVHD. Researches about them would help to find new targment to treat a/cGVHD and were clinically significant in certain to evaluate the efficacy of treatment. In addition, patients with clinical suspicion of GVHD were confirmed by detections of peripheral Th17/Treg cells associated cytokines in order to be treated in time.