Th17/Treg 细胞在银屑病的发病机制研究进展

Th17细胞和Treg细胞是CD4+T细胞在不同细胞因子环境中分化出的新亚群,发挥不同的生物学效应,使机体的免疫系统处于平衡状态.Th17/Treg细胞失衡可引起一系列自身免疫性疾病.银屑病是与遗传、免疫异常有关的皮肤炎症性疾病,其发病机制尚不清楚.越来越多的研究发现,Th17细胞增多和Treg细胞减少及其分泌的细胞因子在银屑病的发病中有着重要作用.本文围绕这一机制综述了近年来有关Th17细胞、Treg细胞在银屑病发病机制中作用的研究,帮助我们更深入地了解银屑病的发病机制并为今后临床诊断和治疗提供依据.     

Treg细胞和Th17细胞在多发性骨髓瘤中的研究进展

多发性骨髓瘤(MM)系血液系统的恶性肿瘤,以老年人多见.目前治疗以化疗和自身干细胞移植为主,仍难以治愈.多发性骨髓瘤的进展涉及到一系列基因和骨髓微环境的改变,这些改变恰好促进了肿瘤细胞的生长并瓦解了局部的免疫反应.CD4+和CD8+T细胞在多发性骨髓瘤患者体内数量和功能的改变都已经阐明.Treg细胞和Th17细胞的平衡在维持多发性骨髓瘤患者的抗肿瘤免疫中起着至关重要的作用.Treg细胞负责维持机体对外来抗原和自身抗原的免疫耐受.Th17细胞主要参与机体抵抗真菌和寄生虫感染、炎症反应和自身免疫.多发性骨髓瘤患者体内TGF-β和IL-6高水平表达,并可直接或通过其他促炎因子影响Th17细胞的分化,进而调节机体的抗肿瘤免疫应答.因此我们针对Treg细胞和Th17细胞在多发性骨髓瘤中的研究进展进行阐述.     

Th17/Treg细胞及其失衡在乙型肝炎致病机制中的作用

我国是乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)高感染率国家,乙型肝炎发病机制十分复杂,宿主免疫调节紊乱是导致不能有效清除病毒、病情迁延不愈的重要原因,其中CD4+T淋巴细胞发挥主要作用。最近,新发现的CD4+T细胞的几种亚群为乙型肝炎致病机制的研究提供了新思路。这些新的T细胞亚群中,有一种被称为Th17细胞,表达转录因子ROR-γt,并分泌各种IL-17因子参与免疫反应。另一种为Treg细胞,表达转录因子Fox P3,主要分泌TGF-β因子,当TGF-β单独存在时,初始的效应T细胞分化为Treg细胞。辅助性Th17细胞(Th17)和调节性T细胞(regulatory T cell,Treg)在分化发育、增殖及功能上有着密切的联系,并参与乙型肝炎的致病过程,对乙型肝炎的发生、发展、及愈后有一定影响。最近的研究表明,Th17/Treg的失调可能参与了乙型肝炎的异常免疫反应,从而导致慢性炎症的形成和HBV的持续感染。本文就Th17细胞和Treg细胞及其失衡在乙型肝炎致病机制中的作用予以综述,为乙型肝炎的免疫学治疗提供理论基础。     

Treg/IL-17 Ratio and Treg Differentiation in Patients with COPD

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic pulmonary and systematic inflammation. An abnormal adaptive immune response leads to an imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory processes. T-helper (Th), T-cytotoxic (Tc) and T-regulatory (Treg) cells may play important roles in immune and inflammatory responses. This study was conducted to clarify the changes and imbalance of cytokines and T lymphocyte subsets in patients with COPD, especially during acute exacerbations (AECOPD).

Methods

Twenty-three patients with stable COPD (SCOPD) and 21 patients with AECOPD were enrolled in the present study. In addition, 20 age-, sex- and weight-matched non-smoking healthy volunteers were included as controls. The serum levels of selected cytokines (TGF-β, IL-10, TNF-α, IL-17 and IL-9) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Furthermore, the T lymphocyte subsets collected from peripheral blood samples were evaluated by flow cytometry after staining with anti-CD3-APC, anti-CD4-PerCP, anti-CD8- PerCP, anti-CD25-FITC and anti-FoxP3-PE monoclonal antibodies. Importantly, to remove the confounding effects of inflammatory factors, the authors introduced a concept of “inflammation adjustment” and corrected each measured value using representative inflammatory markers, such as TNF-α and IL-17.

Results

Unlike the other cytokines, serum TGF-β levels were considerably higher in patients with AECOPD relative to the control group regardless of adjustment. There were no significant differences in the percentages of either CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T cells among the three groups. Although Tregs were relatively upregulated during acute exacerbations, their capacities of generation and differentiation were far from sufficient. Finally, the authors noted that the ratios of Treg/IL-17 were similar among groups.

Conclusions

These observations suggest that in patients with COPD, especially during acute exacerbations, both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory reactions are strengthened, with the pro-inflammatory reactions dominating. Although the Treg/IL-17 ratios were normal, the regulatory T cells were still insufficient to suppress the accompanying increases in inflammation. All of these changes suggest a complicated mechanism of pro- and anti-inflammatory imbalance which needs to be further investigated.     

Change of Th17 Lymphocytes and Treg/Th17 in Typical and Atypical Optic Neuritis

Background

Typical and atypical optic neuritis (ON) are two clinical types of autoimmune inflammatory diseases of the optic nerve that causes acute vision loss, and are difficult to distinguish in their early stages. The disturbance in the balance of Th17 and Treg lymphocytes is thought to play an essential role in these autoimmune inflammatory diseases.

Objectives

To detect the clinical relevance of Th17 and Treg in peripheral blood and the ratio of Treg/Th17 in patients with typical and atypical ON. To determine whether analysis of Th17 and Treg lymphocytes will provides insights into the different disease phenotypes of typical and atypical ON.

Methods

We studied a consecutive series of patients aged 14–70 years who presented to our neurological department with typical ON (n = 30) or atypical ON (n = 33) within 4 weeks of their acute attacks. Routine clinical tests and ophthalmological examination were performed in all patients. Blood samples were collected from untreated patients and from gender- and age-matched healthy controls (n = 30). The proportion of peripheral blood Th17 cells and Treg cells was determined by flow cytometry.

Results

Patients with atypical ON had a higher proportion of Th17 cells than patients with typical ON (3.61±1.56 vs 2.55±1.74, P<0.01) or controls (1.45±0.86, P<0.01). The proportion of Th17 cells in patients with typical ON was also markedly higher than in controls (P<0.01). The mean percentage of Treg cells in atypical ON (6.31±2.11) and typical ON (6.80±2.00) were significantly lower when compared to controls (8.29±2.32, both P<0.01). No significant difference in Treg frequency was observed between typical ON and atypical ON (p>0.05).

Conclusions

The frequency of Th17 cells is higher in atypical ON than typical ON, and patients with atypical ON have a greater imbalance of pro-inflammatory and regulatory cells than patients with typical ON when compared with controls. These changes are indicative of distinct pathological mechanisms and may provide useful information to distinguish typical and atypical ON.     

桥本甲状腺炎患者血清miR-326、miR-155与甲状腺相关抗体和Th17/Treg细胞因子失衡的相关性分析

摘要 目的：探讨桥本甲状腺炎（HT）患者血清微小核糖核酸（miR）-326、miR-155与甲状腺相关抗体和辅助性T细胞17（Th17）/调节性T细胞（Treg）细胞因子失衡的相关性。方法：选择2021年1月至2022年10月空军军医大学唐都医院收治的HT患者82例作为研究组,同期接受体检的健康人80例作为对照组,比较两组血清miR-326、miR-155、甲状腺功能参数[促甲状腺激素（TSH）、游离三碘甲状原氨酸（FT₃）、游离甲状腺素（FT₄）]、甲状腺相关抗体[甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体（TPOAb）、甲状腺球蛋白抗体（TGAb）]、Th17、Treg水平及其细胞因子水平,并分析HT患者血清miR-326、miR-155与甲状腺相关抗体和Th17/Treg细胞因子失衡的相关性。结果：研究组TSH、TPOAb、TGAb显著高于对照组,FT₃、FT₄显著低于对照组（P<0.05）。研究组血清miR-326、miR-155表达水平显著高于对照组（P<0.05）。研究组Th17、Th17/Treg、白细胞介素-17（IL-17）、γ干扰素（IFN-γ）显著高于对照组,Treg、白细胞介素-10（IL-10）水平显著低于对照组（P<0.05）。Pearson相关分析显示,HT患者血清miR-326、miR-155分别与TSH、TPOAb、TGAb、Th17、Th17/Treg、IL-17、IFN-γ呈正相关,与FT₃、FT₄、Treg、IL-10呈负相关（P<0.05）。结论：HT患者血清miR-326、miR-155水平异常升高,其水平与TPOAb、TGAb自身抗体及Th17/Treg失衡相关,血清miR-326、miR-155可能通过影响Th17/Treg免疫平衡,促进HT的发生和发展。     

Th17/Treg细胞失衡与子宫颈癌

Th17细胞是近年发现的一种新型CD4^＋效应性T细胞,以其特异性的分泌IL-17而命名。介导免疫耐受的Treg细胞和介导炎症反应的Th17细胞间功能和分化过程相互对抗,在正常状态下,两者保持平衡,但机体发生功能异常时常表现出Treg/Th17失衡,引起炎性反应、自身免疫性疾病、移植物抗宿主病等的发生和发展,并决定疾病的转归和预后,在肿瘤免疫中亦发挥了重要作用。该文就Treg/Th17失衡在肿瘤,尤其是子宫颈癌发生发展中的作用进行综述。     

Regulation of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg by pDC/mDC imbalance in primary immune thrombocytopenia

This study investigates the regulatory effect of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC)/myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) imbalance on balance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg in primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). A total of 30 untreated ITP patients and 20 healthy controls were recruited. Compared with healthy control, the pDC proportion of ITP patients was significantly reduced (P = 0.004), while the mDC proportion was not significantly changed (P = 0.681), resulting in a decrease in the pDC/mDC ratio (P = 0.001). Additionally, compared with controls, serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12, and IL-23 were increased in ITP patients (P < 0.001), and mRNA levels of IL-12p40, IL-12p35, and IL-23p19 were also increased (P =0.014, P = 0.043, P < 0.001). Compared with the healthy control, the proportion of Th1 and Th17 cells in ITP patients increased (P = 0.001, P = 0.031). Serum levels of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and IL-17 in ITP patients also increased (P = 0.025, P = 0.005). Furthermore, T-bet and RORγt mRNA levels were increased in peripheral blood of ITP patients (P = 0.018, P < 0.001). Correspondingly, the proportion of Th2 and Treg cells decreased (P = 0.007, P < 0.001), along with a decrease in serum IL-4 and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) (P = 0.028, P = 0.042), and an increase in GATA-3 mRNA (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in Foxp3 mRNA levels (P = 0.587). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the proportion of total dendritic cells (DCs) was positively correlated with IL-12 (r = 0.526, P = 0.003) and IL-23 (r = 0.501, P = 0.005) in ITP patients. Th1/Th2 ratio, IFN-γ, and IL-12 levels were negatively correlated with platelet counts (r = −0.494, P = 0.009; r = –0.415, P = 0.028; r = –0.492, P = 0.032). However, IL-23 was positively correlated with IL-17 (r = 0.489, P = 0.006) and negatively correlated with platelet count (r = –0.564, P = 0.001). The ratio of IL-6 and Th17 cells was negatively correlated with platelet count (r = –0.443, P = 0.014; r = –0.471, P = 0.011). The imbalance of pDC/mDC and the increase of IL-6, IL-12, and IL-23 lead to the increased differentiation of CD4+ T cells into Th1 and Th17 cells, which might be the important mechanisms underlying the imbalance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg in ITP patients.     

特应性皮炎患儿外周血miR-122a和miR-146a水平与Th1/Th2/Th17免疫平衡的相关性分析

摘要 目的：探讨特应性皮炎（AD）患儿外周血微小核糖核酸（miRNA）-122a和miR-146a水平与辅助性T细胞（Th）1/Th2/Th17免疫平衡的相关性。方法：选取2020年5月～2023年5月石家庄市妇幼保健院皮肤科收治的AD患儿100例为AD组,根据特应性皮炎评分（SCORAD）分为轻度组31例、中度组41例、重度组28例,另选取同期100名体检健康儿童为对照组。采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应检测外周血miR-122a、miR-146a水平,流式细胞术检测外周血Th1、Th2、Th17细胞比例,酶联免疫吸附法检测外周血Th1、Th2、Th17相关细胞因子[白细胞介素（IL）-2、干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）、IL-4、IL-13、IL-17、IL-22]水平,并计算Th1/Th2/Th17比值。采用Pearson/Spearman相关性分析AD患儿外周血miR-122a、miR-146a与Th1、Th2、Th17和相关细胞因子及Th1/Th2/Th17的相关性。结果：AD组外周血miR-122a、miR-146a、Th1、Th1/Th2/Th17、IL-2、IFN-γ水平低于对照组,Th2、Th17、IL-4、IL-13、IL-17、IL-22水平高于对照组（P均＜0.05）。轻度组、中度组、重度组外周血miR-122a、miR-146a、Th1、Th1/Th2/Th17、IL-2、IFN-γ水平依次降低,Th2、Th17、IL-4、IL-13、IL-17、IL-22水平依次升高（P均＜0.05）。Pearson/Spearman相关性分析显示,AD患儿外周血miR-122a、miR-146a与Th1、Th1/Th2/Th17、IL-2、IFN-γ水平呈正相关（r/rs分别为0.679、0.677、0.684、0.706、0.693、0.689、0.671、0.694,P均＜0.001）,与Th2、Th17、IL-4、IL-13、IL-17、IL-22呈负相关（r/rs分别为-0.690、-0.680、-0.681、-0.669、-0.675、-0.676、-0.676、-0.686、-0.682、-0.674、-0.680、-0.689,P均＜0.001）。结论：AD患儿外周血miR-122a、miR-146a水平降低,与病情严重程度密切相关,可能通过调节Th1/Th2/Th17免疫平衡参与AD发生发展。     

Systemic Inflammation in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Involves Follicular T-Helper,Th17- and Activated B-Cells and Correlates with Progression

Pathology studies of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) indicate a major role of inflammation including Th17-cells and meningeal inflammation with ectopic lymphoid follicles, B-cells and plasma cells, the latter indicating a possible role of the newly identified subset of follicular T-helper (T_FH) cells. Although previous studies reported increased systemic inflammation in progressive MS it remains unclear whether systemic inflammation contributes to disease progression and intrathecal inflammation. This study aimed to investigate systemic inflammation in progressive MS and its relationship with disease progression, using flow cytometry and gene expression analysis of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺T-cells, B-cells, monocytes and dendritic cells. Furthermore, gene expression of cerebrospinal fluid cells was studied. Flow cytometry studies revealed increased frequencies of ICOS⁺T_FH-cells in peripheral blood from relapsing-remitting (RRMS) and secondary progressive (SPMS) MS patients. All MS subtypes had decreased frequencies of Th1 T_FH-cells, while primary progressive (PPMS) MS patients had increased frequency of Th17 T_FH-cells. The Th17-subset, interleukin-23-receptor⁺CD4⁺T-cells, was significantly increased in PPMS and SPMS. In the analysis of B-cells, we found a significant increase of plasmablasts and DC-SIGN⁺ and CD83⁺B-cells in SPMS. ICOS⁺T_FH-cells and DC-SIGN⁺B-cells correlated with disease progression in SPMS patients. Gene expression analysis of peripheral blood cell subsets substantiated the flow cytometry findings by demonstrating increased expression of IL21, IL21R and ICOS in CD4⁺T-cells in progressive MS. Cerebrospinal fluid cells from RRMS and progressive MS (pooled SPMS and PPMS patients) had increased expression of T_FH-cell and plasmablast markers. In conclusion, this study is the first to demonstrate the potential involvement of activated T_FH-cells in MS. The increased frequencies of Th17-cells, activated T_FH- and B-cells parallel findings from pathology studies which, along with the correlation between activated T_FH- and B-cells and disease progression, suggest a pathogenic role of systemic inflammation in progressive MS. These observations may have implications for the treatment of progressive MS.     

Distinct Tryptophan Catabolism and Th17/Treg Balance in HIV Progressors and Elite Controllers

Tryptophan (Trp) catabolism into immunosuppressive kynurenine (Kyn) by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) was previously linked to Th17/Treg differentiation and immune activation. Here we examined Trp catabolism and its impact on Th17/Treg balance in uninfected healthy subjects (HS) and a large cohort of HIV-infected patients with different clinical outcomes: ART-naïve, Successfully Treated (ST), and elite controllers (EC). In ART-naïve patients, increased IDO activity/expression, together with elevated levels of TNF-α and sCD40L, were associated with Treg expansion and an altered Th17/Treg balance. These alterations were normalized under ART. In contrast, Trp 2,3-dioxegenase (TDO) expression was dramatically lower in EC when compared to all other groups. Interestingly, EC displayed a distinctive Trp metabolism characterized by low Trp plasma levels similar to ART-naïve patients without accumulating immunosuppressive Kyn levels which was accompanied by a preserved Th17/Treg balance. These results suggest a distinctive Trp catabolism and Th17/Treg balance in HIV progressors and EC. Thus, IDO-induced immune-metabolism may be considered as a new inflammation-related marker for HIV-1 disease progression.     

miR-29ab1 Deficiency Identifies a Negative Feedback Loop Controlling Th1 Bias That Is Dysregulated in Multiple Sclerosis

Th cell programming and function is tightly regulated by complex biological networks to prevent excessive inflammatory responses and autoimmune disease. The importance of microRNAs (miRNAs) in this process is highlighted by the preferential Th1 polarization of Dicer-deficient T cells that lack miRNAs. Using genetic knockouts, we demonstrate that loss of endogenous miR-29, derived from the miR-29ab1 genomic cluster, results in unrestrained T-bet expression and IFN-γ production. miR-29b regulates T-bet and IFN-γ via a direct interaction with the 3' untranslated regions, and IFN-γ itself enhances miR-29b expression, establishing a novel regulatory feedback loop. miR-29b is increased in memory CD4(+) T cells from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, which may reflect chronic Th1 inflammation. However, miR-29b levels decrease significantly upon T cell activation in MS patients, suggesting that this feedback loop is dysregulated in MS patients and may contribute to chronic inflammation. miR-29 thus serves as a novel regulator of Th1 differentiation, adding to the understanding of T cell-intrinsic regulatory mechanisms that maintain a balance between protective immunity and autoimmunity.     

Osteoimmunology: The correlation between osteoclasts and the Th17/Treg balance in osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that is caused by disorder of the skeletal microenvironment, and it characterized by a high disability rate and the occurrence of low energy fractures. Studies on osteoporosis and related treatment options have always been hot spots in the field of bone biology. In the past, the understanding of osteoporosis has been rather limited; research has only shown that osteoporosis involves the imbalance of bone resorption and bone formation, and recent studies have not provided cutting‐edge theories of the basic understanding of osteoporosis. Recent studies have shown crosstalk between bone and immune responses. RANKL, an essential factor for osteoclasts (OCs), is associated with the immune system. T helper (Th17)/regulatory T (Treg) cells are two different kinds of T cells that can self‐interact and regulate the differentiation and formation of OCs. Therefore, understanding the correlation between the skeletal and immune systems and further revealing the roles and the cooperation between RANKL and the Th17/Treg balance will help to provide new insights for the treatment of osteoporosis.