The Research Of Th17 And Treg Cells And Their Related Cytokines In Elderly Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Objective: To study the expression of T helper cell 17(Th17) with its related cytokines interleukin-17(IL-17)、retinoic acid-related orphan nuclear receptor(RORγt) and regulatory T cells(Treg) with its related cytokines interleukin-10(IL-10)、forkhead winged helix transcription factor(Foxp3) in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, explore the effect of Th17 / Treg cell imbalance in elderly patients with COPD.Methods: To collect the peripheral blood which comes from the different age groups in patients of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute exacerbation and healthy controls.Use the density gradient centrifug-ation method to separate the peripheral blood mononuelear cells. Then use the flow cytometry to detect the number of Th17 and Treg cells in peripheral blood. The m RNA expression levels of forkhead winged helix transcription factor and retinoic acid-related orphan nuclear receptor were observed by Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. Proteins expression of cytokines interleukin-17 and interleukin-10 in the serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Result:(1) The expression of Th17 cells in PBMC of adult COPD group by flow cytometry were 4.68 ± 1.41, compared with adult control group(2.23 ± 0.56) was increased(P <0.05), elderly COPD group(6.25 ± 1.34) was higher than the elderly control group(3.38 ± 0.65)(P <0.05), while the older adult control group compared with the control group was increased(P <0.05), elderly COPD group was higher than adult group(P <0.05); The expression of Treg cells in PBMC of adult COPD group were 3.36 ± 1.30, compared with adult control group(5.82 ± 1.02) was reduced(P <0.05), elderly COPD group(2.54 ± 0.78) was lower than the elderly control group(4.64 ± 1.09)(P <0.05), while the older adult control group compared with the control group was reduced(P <0.05), elderly COPD group was lower than adult group(P <0.05)(2) Q-PCR detection shown that the expression of RORγt in adult COPD group were 2.18 ± 1.56 which compared to adult control group(0.78 ± 0.34)was upregulated(P <0.05), elderly COPD group(4.61 ± 2.40) was higher than elderly control group(1.99 ± 0.74)(P <0.05), while the older control group compared with the adult control group was increased(P <0.05), elderly COPD group was higher than adult COPD group(P <0.05); Q-PCR detection shown that the expression of Foxp3 in adult COPD group were 0.47 ± 0.20 which compared to adult control group(1.80 ± 0.93)was decreased(P <0.05), elderly COPD group(0.13 ± 0.03) was lower than elderly control group(0.84 ± 0.41)(P <0.05), while the older control group compared with the adult control group was reduced(P <0.05), elderly COPD group was lower than adult group(P <0.05)(3) ELISA detection shown that the expression of IL-17 in adult COPD group were 33.51 ± 3.62 which compared to adult control group(15.35 ± 1.60)was upregulated(P <0.05), elderly COPD group(438.64 ± 3.57) was higher than elderly control group(26.28 ± 0.96)(P <0.05), while the older control group compared with the adult control group was increased(P <0.05), elderly COPD group was higher than adult COPD group(P <0.05);but the expression of IL-10 in adult COPD group were 8.01 ± 1.91 which compared to adult control group(14.40 ± 1.41)was decreased(P <0.05), elderly COPD group(4.78 ± 1.33) was lower than elderly control group(9.44 ± 1.78)(P <0.05), while the older control group compared with the adult control group was reduced(P <0.05), elderly COPD group was lower than adult group(P <0.05)(4) The number of Th17 cells were negatively correlated with FEV1(%)(r=-0.713,P<0.05).The number of Treg cells were positively correlated with FEV1(%)(r=0.703,P<0.05).Conclusion:1.In peripheral blood of old people the expression of Th17 cells were increased, Treg cells were decreased, the changes of Th17 and Treg cells and their related factors changes in the aging process may lead to an imbalance of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory immune responses.2. In patients with COPD, the proportion of Th17 cells were increased, while the proportion of Treg cells were decreased.While in elderly patients with COPD, the imbalance of Th17 and Treg cells were more remarkably.