Regulation of CD4 + T cell subsets on pathogenic mechanism in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura

Objective To explore the alternations of CD4+ T cell subsets and their cytokines and transcription factors in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP). Methods Forty-one children were enrolled in this study, including 41 in acute stage of HSP, 35 cases of HSP in clinical remission stage and 30 healthy children as healthy control group.The percentages of helper T lymphocytes (Th)1, Th2, regulatory T cells(Treg) and Th17 subsets were determined by flow cytometry(FCM). The concentrations of plasma interferon-γ(INF-γ), interleukin(IL) -4, transforming growth factor -β1 (TGF-β1)and IL- 17 were examined by ways of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The expressions of T-bet, GATA3, Foxp3 and ROR-γt mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were examined by means of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results (1) During the acute and recovery stage of HSP, compared with the control group, the percentages of Th2 and Th17 cell subsets, the le-vels of plasma IL-4 and IL-17, and the expressions of GATA3 and ROR-γt mRNA were significantly higher(all P 0.05). The ratio of Th1/Th2, and the expressions of T-bet and Foxp3 mRNA were increased (all P<0.05), while the levels of plasma IL-4 and IL-17, the expressions of GATA3 and ROR-γt mRNA were decreased(all P<0.05) compared with those in acute stage.In the recovery stage of HSP, the imbalances of Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 were still obvious .(3) There was a positive correlation in every 2 cytokines of Th1, INF-γ and T-bet.And the same correlation existed in Th2, IL-4 and GATA3, in Treg, TGF-β1 and Foxp3, and in Th17, IL-17 and ROR-γt(P<0.05). Conclusions The imbalance of Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 is critical in pathological mechanism of HSP.The disturbance of immune tole-rance induced by Treg cells is important in HSP. Key words: Henoch-Schonlein purpura; Child; Th1/Th2; Treg/Th17