An unique role of T helper 17 cells in different treatment stages of multiple myeloma

Abstract Background T helper (Th) 17 cells are a subset of CD4+T cells which secret IL-17 and specifically express the RORγt gene. Recently, Studies have shown that the level of Th17 cells in peripheral blood of newly diagnosed MM patients is significantly higher than that of healthy persons. Th17 cells play an important role in the immune microenvironment of multiple myeloma and interact with tumor cells, osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Th17 cells may be a potential therapeutic target for MM patients. Patients and Methods In this study, we further tracked the levels of Th17 cells in peripheral blood of fifty-four patients with MM from newly diagnosed to partial remission to complete remission to relapse and eleven healthy donors. Results The level of Th17 cells increased further when the disease reached partial remission, decreased to normal level when it reached complete remission, and increased again when the disease recurred. In addition, we also found that in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients, Th17 cell levels fluctuated greatly, not all patients were up-regulated, and patients with normal Th17 cell levels had the highest chance of complete remission. Conclusion Th17 cells contribute to the stratification of different treatment stages of multiple myeloma patients. The level of Th17 cells in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma l is associated with the treatment outcome of complete remission.