Effect Of MPs On The Th1/Th2 Imbalance In Patients With RA

Objective: To investigate the imbalance of Th1/Th2 by detecting the cytokine productions by T helper cell in patients with RA in this study. Moreover, the effect of microparticles of RA patients on the balance of Th1/Th2 was also explored.Methods:(1) There is no specific cell surface marker of Th1 and Th2 nowadays. The secreted cytokines are used to distinguish Th1 and Th2 cells. IFN-γ is the most specifically secreted cytokines of Th1 and IL-4 is the most specific cytokines secreted by Th2. That is Th1:CD4+IFN-γ+, Th2:CD4+IL-4+. Flow cytometry was used to detected the cytokines IFN-γ and IL-4 produced in T helper cells of patients with RA. T cells secreted cytokines to the outside of the cell were detected by CBA method, including Th1 type(IL-2、IFN-γand TNF-α) and Th2 type(IL-4、IL-6 and IL-10).(2) Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of Tim-3 on T cells and monocytes in peripheral blood.(3) To collect the MPs in plasma of RA patients and to detect the effect of MPs on the Th1/Th2 balance.Results:(1) RA resting patients with clinical parameters were better than those in the active stage(P<0.05);(2) The level of IFN-γ in T cells in RA patients was significantly higher than that in control group(17.5%(2.9-36.6%) vs. 33.5%(14.8-54.8%), P<0.05);There was no significant difference between the two groups in the level of IL-4(P>0.05);Compared with the control group, the ratio of Th1/Th2 in RA patients was significantly higher(0.21(0.04-0.96) vs. 0.12(0.05-0.25), P<0.05);(3) The serum of RA patients promote the in vitro culture of PBMC production of Th1 type cytokines(IFN-γ and TNF-α)and inhibit Th2 type cytokines(IL-6 and IL-10), and there is a certain degree of dose-dependent;(4) The level of Th1 cytokines(IFN-γ) in patients with RA in active stage was significantly higher than that in patients during resting stage(23.5%(13.8-28.5%) vs.7.4%(4.9-8.6%), P<0.05). The level of Th2 cytokines(IL-4) was also significantly higher than that in patients during resting stage(11.5%(9.8-14.5%) vs. 5.1%(3.5-6.9%), P<0.05);(5) In resting state, the expression level of Tim-3 on monocytes of RA patients in peripheral blood was significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.05); However,there was no significant difference between the two groups in the expression level of Tim-3on CD4+T cells(P>0.05); After LPS stimulation, compared with the control group, Tim-3expression level of CD4+T cells in RA patients were significantly higher, there was significant difference(P<0.05);(6) The MPs of RA patients affect the Th1/Th2 balance,that is to promote the expression of Th2 type cytokines and to inhibit the expression of Th1 type cytokines(P<0.05).Conclusions: RA patients exist in the Th1/Th2 imbalance and secretion pattern toward Th1 offset, this is correlated with the degree of disease activity.(2) The MPs in plasma of RA patients has a certain regulatory effect on the Th1/Th2 imbalance.