The Research About Some Cytokines Related To Th1, Th2 And Th17 In Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a cutaneous depigmenting disorder characterized by the development of skin patches lacking pigment due to a loss of melanocytes.Vitiligo is a common skin disease caused by genetic and immune factors,but the exact pathogenesis has not been fully clarified. Recent observations support the role of altered cellular immunity, autoimmunity, and a role for cytokines in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.Naive CD4+ helper T cells are known to develop into 4 types, namely T-helperl(Th1),Th2,Th17,and regulatory T cells (Tregs).The immune system is classified into innate and adaptive immunity.Innate immunity provides a rapid,non-specific host response against different bacteria,viruses or tumors that precedes the adapative immunity. Moreover,innate immunity also has an important role in determining the nature of downstream adaptive immune responses. Thus, immune responses are regulated by APC, DCs,and by NK cells, which are components of innate immunity and by recently described Th lymphocyte subclasses Thl and Th2,which are components of adaptive immunity.Th1 cells primarily secrete IFN-γ,IL-2 and TNF-α,which promote cellular immunity, whereas Th2 cells secrete a different set of cytokines,primarily IL-4,IL-10 and IL-13,which promote humoral immunity. Recently,the Th17 cells have been proposed to make up a new effector cell subset. These cells are named after their hallmark cytokines IL-17A and IL-17F. Beside these cytokines they also produce IL-1beta,IL-6,IL-22.As all of these cytokines have pro-inflammatory properties, it is not surprising that Th17 cells are implicated in a wide range of inflammatory disorders such as RA,MS,and IBD.Furthermore,they are thought to be involved in allergy and asthma.ObjectivesThe incidence of vitiligo is closely related with the immune mechanisms.Th1 and Th2 cytokines have been studied in patients with vitiligo,but the results are not consistent.There are currently no reports of Th17 cytokines in vitiligo.In this study,in order to explore the immune status and mechanism of vitiligo, we analyzed the CD4+T cells in three cell subsets in patients of vitiligo.Methods1. We selected 44 cases of patients with vitiligo and 40 cases of controls, ELISA was applied to analyze the level of IFN-γ,IL-10 and IL-17 in both vitiligo and controls.2. QRT-PCR was used to analyze the mRNA expression level of IL-17 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of vitiligo and controls.3. Statistics and analysis:The SPSS(version 13.0) software packages were used for the statistical analyses. One-Way-ANOVA was used to analyze the level of cytokines in vitiligo and controls.Pearson correlation analysis was used for the level of cytokines and the course of vitiligo.Measurement data were expressed with x±s,differences were significant if P<0.05.Results1. No difference was detected between the patient and control groups in mean level of IFN-γ. There was no correlation between level of IFN-γand the course of the disease. 2. Serum IL-10 levels were significantly increased in the vitiligo group compared with the control group,the level of IL-10 in active vitiligo was higher than that of stable patients,the generalized vitiligo was higher than that of controls,however,the difference between the localized and controls was not significant. There was no correlation between level of IL-10 and the course of the disease.3. Serum IL-17 levels were significantly increased in the vitiligo group compared with the control group,the level of IL-17 in active vitiligo was higher than that of stable patients,the generalized vitiligo was higher than that of controls. There was no correlation between level of IL-17 and the course of the disease.4 Serum IL-17mRNA levels were significantly increased in the vitiligo group compared with the control group.,the level of IL-17mRNA in active vitiligo was higher than that of stable patients,the generalized vitiligo was higher than that of controls.There was no correlation between level of IL-17mRNA and the course of the disease.Conclusion1 The level of IL-10 in patients with vitiligo is abnormal,it may suggest vitiligo exist Th1/Th2 imbalance,IL-10 may play a role in the pathogenesis of generalized vitiligo,and it is related to the progress of disease.2 The level of IL-17 in patients with vitiligo is abnormal,IL-17 may play a role in the pathogenesis of generalized vitiligo,and it is related to the progress of disease.