Increased Th17 Cell Frequency Concomitant with Decreased Foxp3+ Treg Cell Frequency in the Peripheral Circulation of Patients with Carotid Artery Plaques

Overview

Journal Inflamm Res

Specialties Allergy & Immunology
Pathology

Date 2012 Jun 26

PMID 22728962

Citations 27

Authors

Zhen-Dong Liu

Lin Wang

Fang-Hong Lu

Hui Pan

Ying-Xin Zhao

Shu-Jian Wang

Shang-wen Sun

Cui-Ling Li

Xiao-Liang Hu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective And Design: We investigated a possible imbalance between T helper (Th)17 and CD4+ CD25+ forkhead/winged helix transcription factor (Foxp3) T regulatory (Treg) cells in patients with carotid artery plaques.

Material Or Subjects: From November 2009 to September 2010, we enrolled 126 males and 104 females with mean age 68.24 ± 6.71 years.

Treatment: Based on carotid artery sonography, the 230 subjects were categorized into three groups: plaque negative; stable plaques; and unstable plaques.

Methods: Th17 and Treg cell frequencies, relevant plasma cytokines (IL-17, IL-6, IL-23, and TNF-α), and RORγt mRNA levels were determined.

Results: Compared to plaque negative, Th17 cells, Th17-related cytokines (IL-17, IL-6, IL-23, and TNF-α), and RORγt mRNA levels were higher with stable plaques, and highest with unstable plaques. The opposite trend was found for Treg cells, Treg-related cytokines (IL-10 and TGF-β1), and Foxp3 mRNA. Th17 cell frequencies were significantly negatively correlated with Treg cell frequencies.

Conclusions: Our investigation demonstrated that there is a Th17/Treg functional imbalance in patients with unstable carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Th17 cells may promote atherogenesis, while Treg cells may have a protective role against atherosclerosis plaques. An imbalance of Th17/Treg cells may offer a new direction for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

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