Abstract:
To discuss the expression of T helper cell 17 (Th17) cells and CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) in
peripheral blood (PB) of patients with acute leukemia (AL), and to explore the relationship between them and disease
prognosis. 40 patients diagnosed with acute leukemia in The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from July
2012 to August 2014 were selected as the observation group. Meanwhile, 40 healthy people were taken as the control
group. Flow Cytometry Method (FCM) was used to detect the level of Th17 cells and CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+
cells in
peripheral blood of the two groups, and enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to test the level
of IL17 and TGF-β in peripheral blood of two groups; reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was
adopted to analyze the mRNA levels of RORγT and Foxp3 in peripheral blood. In addition, we examined the levels of
Th17 and CD4+
CD25+
Foxp3+
cells and associated factor levels in patients with remission after AL chemotherapy. the
Th17 cells (CD3+ CD4+ IL-17+
) in acute leukemia patients accounted for (1.51±0.27)%, which was significantly higher
than that of control group (0.36±0.23)%, with statistical significance (t=20.51, P<0.001); the percentage of CD4+
CD25+
Foxp3+ cells in AL patients was (3.37±0.48)%, which was significantly higher than that of control group of
(1.26±0.27)%, with statistical significance (t=24.23, P<0.001); the serum levels of IL-17 and TGF-β in AL patients were
(28.12±6.33) pg/ml and (38.41±8.44) pg/ml respectively, which were all significantly higher than that of control group
of (14.41±6.21) pg/ml and (24.49±7.42) pg/ml, with statistical significance (t=7.83, P<0.001; t=7.83, P<0.001); the
RORγT mRNA and Foxp3 mRNA levels in AL patients were all significantly higher than that of control group, with
statistical significance (t=12.27, P<0.001; t=7.89, P<0.001). In addition, compared with before chemotherapy, the levels
of Th17 cells and CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+
cells, and the serum levels of IL-17 and TGF-β in acute leukemia patients all
decreased significantly after 6 months of chemotherapy, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). Th17
cells, CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+
cells and their secretory proteins IL-17, TGF-β and transcription factors were significantly
increased in AL patients. Therefore, regular detection of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells, as well as their secretory
proteins are useful for monitoring the immune status and prognosis of patients.
