Effect Of CD40L Onth17/Treg Cellsin Peripheral Blood Of Patients With AECOPD

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect ofCD40L on CD4+IL-17+T cells and CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg cells polarization and cytokinessecretion in peripheral blood of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.METHODS:15 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD groupand 15 non-smokers with normal lung functionwere recruited betweenMay2014 and January2015.The clinical data were collected.Peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC)were isolated fromperipheral blood of individuals.The percentages of circulating CD40L,CD4+IL-17+T cells and CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg cells were determined by flow cytometry.The each case of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained and were divided into control group and anti-CD40L antibody group,which were added to anti-CD40L antibody to block the CD40-CD40L pathway.The cells were seeded in 24 well plates.The percentages of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg cells,CD4+IL-17+T cells and CD40L were determined by flow cytometry after the cells were cultured for 24 hours.The concentrations of serum and cell supernatant IL-10 and EL-17 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.RESULTS:(1)In comparison with normal group,significantly higher percentages of CD4+IL-17+T cells and CD40L in AECOPD group(P<0.05),and significantly lower percentages of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg cells in AECOPD group(P<0.05).(2)The level of IL-17 in AECOPD group were higher than normal group(P<0.05),The level of IL-10 in AECOPD group were lower than normal group(P<0.05).(3)In vitro,comparison with the control group of normal group,percentages of CD4+IL-17+T cells and CD40L were increased and CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg cells were decreased in AECOPD group.After cultured for 24 hours,the percentages of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg cells in the anti-CD40L antibody group of AECOPD group were higher than control group,the percentages of CD4+IL-17+T cells were decreased.(4)The higher level of cell supernatant IL-17 in anti-CD40L antibody group,IL-10 were lower than the control group.(5)The percentages of CD40Lwere negatively correlated with the values of FEV1%Pred(R=-0.963,P<0.001).CONCLUSION:(1)The percentages of CD40L were increased significantly and imbanlances ratio of Th17/Treg in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD.(2)In vitro,anti-CD40L antibody can block CD40-CD40L pathway,result in inhibited Th17 cells proliferation and alleviated imbanlances ratio of Th17/Treg.