The dynamic change of Th17 cells and regulatory T cells in PBMC during the anti-tuberculosis treatment of the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To study the relationship between the numbers of Th17 cells, CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^low Tregs and the tuberculosis (TB) and outcome of anti-TB. Methods Intracellular staining and flow cytometry analysis were used to evaluate IL-17 cytokine secreted by Th17 cells and the responses of CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^low Treg cells in peripheral blood samples collected from 25 individuals with LTBI, 45 healthy donors (HD), 32 patients with active pulmonary TB. The results were showed as x±s，all data were analyzed by software Prism 4.0. Two groups were compared by t-test，the comparison between groups used ANOVA. There is statistical significance if P<0.05. Results The percentage of IL-17 in TB group ［（3.25±1.68）%］was significantly lower than that in HD group ［（4.62±1.46）%］（F=6.633，P<0.0001）before treatment. The dynamic variation of IL-17 percentage was monitored at different time points: before treatment［（3.25±1.68）%］, at 3 months［（4.17±2.27）%］, and at 6 months after treatment［（5.58±1.66）%］. The percentage of Th17 cells from TB group at 3 months after treatment was higher than that before treatment, but there was no significant difference（F=12.244，P=0.057）. The percentage of Th17 cells at 6 months after treatment was significantly higher than those before treatment（F=12.244，P<0.0001） and at 3 months after treatment（F=12.244，P=0.004）. The percentage of CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^low treg cells in LTBI group ［（5.00±1.08）%］ was higher than that in HD group ［（4.97±1.60）%］, but there was no significant difference （F=11.986，P=0.937）. The percentage of CD4+CD25+CD127low treg cells in TB group ［（6.59±1.73）%］ was significantly higher than that in HD group and LTBI group (F=11.986，P<0.0001). The Treg cells at 3 months after treatment were significantly higher than that before treatment（F=6.458，P=0.001）. But the Treg cells at 6 months after treatment were lower than that at 3 months after treatment（F=6.458，P=0.085）. There was no significant difference between before treatment and at 6 months after treatment（F=6.458，P=0.068）. The Treg cells at 6 months after treatment were significantly higher than HD group（t=6.255，P<0.0001）. Conclusion The Th17 cells in TB group were low, gradually increased after effective anti-TB treatment, which suggested that Th17 cells play a protective role in the anti-TB immunity. The CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^low treg cells in TB group were higher, and gradually reduced after effective anti-TB treatment, which suggested that CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^low treg cells play a supressive role in the anti-TB immunity.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary/immunology, T-lymphocytes, regulatory, T-lymphocytes, helper-inducer

ZHANG Ying，LU Jian，HOU Zhi-ping，ZHANG Ming-xia，CHEN Xin-chun，ZHANG Xing-shu，QIU Zhen-gang. The dynamic change of Th17 cells and regulatory T cells in PBMC during the anti-tuberculosis treatment of the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis[J]. Chinese Journal of Antituberculosis, 2013, 35(6): 427-432.

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