The Imbalance between Foxp3+Tregs and Th1/Th17/Th22 Cells in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Autoimmune Hepatitis

J Immunol Res. 2018 Jun 27:2018:3753081. doi: 10.1155/2018/3753081. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

This study is aimed at examining the potential role of regulatory T- (Treg-) Th1-Th17-Th22 cells in the pathogenic process of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). The numbers of Foxp3+Tregs and Th1, Th17, and Th22 cells were measured in 32 AIH patients using flow cytometry. Moreover, a murine model of experimental autoimmune hepatitis (EAH) was also established and used to investigate the function of Treg-Th1-Th17-Th22 cells in disease progression. AIH patients undergoing an active state had significantly decreased numbers of CD3+CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Tregs and increased numbers of CD3+CD4+CD25-Foxp3+T, CD3+CD4+IFN-γ+Th1, CD3+CD4+IL-17+Th17, and CD3+CD4+IL-2+Th22 cells as well as higher levels of Th1/Th17/Th22-type cytokines compared to AIH patients in remission and HC. Additionally, the numbers of CD3+CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Tregs were negatively correlated with the numbers of Th1-Th17-Th22 cells. Also, the serum levels of IL-17A and IL-22 were correlated positively with liver injury (ALT/AST), whereas the serum levels of IL-10 were correlated negatively with hypergammaglobulinaemia (IgG, IgM) in AIH patients. Interestingly, the percentages of spleen Tregs, expression of Foxp3 mRNA, and liver IL-10 levels decreased, whereas the percentages of spleen Th1-Th17-Th22 cells, expression of T-bet/AHR/RORγt mRNA, and liver IFN-γ, IL-17, and IL-22 levels increased in the murine model of EAH. Our findings demonstrated that an imbalance between Tregs and Th1-Th17-Th22 cells might contribute to the pathogenic process of AIH.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Cell Separation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Hepatitis, Autoimmune / immunology*
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Hypergammaglobulinemia
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Middle Aged
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / physiology*
  • Th1-Th2 Balance

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Cytokines
  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors