Studies On The Population Of Th17and Treg Cells And The Expression Of The Correlated Cytokines In Psoriasis Patients

Psoriasis is a group of chronic inflammatory disease without definite etiopathogenisis.The abnormal function of CD4~+T helper cells is one of the important pathogenesis ofpsoriasis. It has been reported that psoriasis patients show the phenotypes with theimbalance of T helper1(Th1) and Th2cells, mainly with Th1cells. Recently we found twokinds of T cells subset-Th17and Treg cells may be involved in the psoriasis.Objective To investigate the population of Th17and regulatory T cell(Treg) inperipheral blood of psoriasis patients, and the mRNA expressions of RORγt and Foxp3,and the levels of interleukin(IL)-17、Transforming growth factor（TGF-β）in plasma ofpsoriasis patients. Methods Fifty-three psoriasis patients were recruited, grouping accordingto psoriasis area and severity index (PASI). Flow cytometric assay were used to analyse thepercentages of Th17and Treg cells in53cases of psoriasis patients and25normal controls.The mRNA expression of RORγt and Foxp3were detected by reverse transcription-PCR.Concentrations of IL-17and TGF-β in plasma of psoriasis patients were detected by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed compared withother group. Results The population of Th17cells in psoriasis patients was dramaticallyincreased than normals,and there was a significance between the high PASI and mild group（P＜0.05）. The population of Treg cells in the high PASI group was significantly lower thannormal controls and mild patients（P＜0.05）; The expression of RORγt in the high PASIgroup was higher than controls and mild group. Moreover there was a significant differencebetween controls and mild group (P＜0.05). Conversely, the expression of Foxp3in the highPASI group was lower than controls and mild group(P<0.05); Concentrations of IL-17inpsoriasis patients were significantly increased in the high PASI group (P＜0.05). Then, theexpression of TGF-β in the high PASI group were lower than controls and mild group（P＜0.05）. Conclusion The present study shows the different population of Th17and Treg cells,and the different expressions of RORγt, Foxp3, IL-17and TGF-β in peripheral blood ofpsoriasis patients, suggesting that Th17and Treg cells may play an important role in thepathogenesis of psoriasis. Our data provided the fundamental basis for the further study of thepathogenesis of psoriasis and its clinical treatments.