Imbalance between Th17 and Regulatory T-Cells in Sarcoidosis |
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| Authors: | Hui Huang Zhiwei Lu Chunguo Jiang Jia Liu Yanxun Wang Zuojun Xu |
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| Affiliation: | 1.Department of Respiratory Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China; E-Mails: (H.H.); (C.J.); (J.L.); (Y.W.);2.Department of Respiratory Medicine, Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 100730, China; E-Mail: |
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| Abstract: | Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease, which is thought to result from an aberrant immune response. CD4+ T lymphocytes play an important role in the development of granulomas. Previously, the immunopathogenesis of sarcoidosis was focused on Th1/Th2 disturbances. The aim of this study was to evaluate the balance between newer CD4+ T lymphocytes, i.e., Treg and Th17 cells. In our studies, a decrease in Treg cells and an increase in Th17 cells were observed in the peripheral blood and BALF of sarcoidosis patients. A significant increase in the Th17/Treg cell ratio was observed in sarcoidosis patients. After treatment with prednisone, the expression of Foxp3 mRNA was elevated in the peripheral blood, and expression of (ROR)γt mRNA showed a downward trend. These findings suggest that sarcoidosis is associated with an imbalance between Th17 and Treg cells in peripheral blood and BALF. Therefore, targeting the cytokines that affect the Th17/Treg ratio could provide a new promising therapy for pulmonary sarcoidosis. |
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| Keywords: | granulomatous disease sarcoidosis regulatory T cells Th17 cells corticosteroids |
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