Increased Th17 cell frequency concomitant with decreased Foxp3+ Treg cell frequency in the peripheral circulation of patients with carotid artery plaques

• Published in: Inflammation research Vol. 61; no. 10; pp. 1155 - 1165
• Main Authors: Liu, Zhen-dong, Wang, Lin, Lu, Fang-hong, Pan, Hui, Zhao, Ying-xin, Wang, Shu-jian, Sun, Shang-wen, Li, Cui-ling, Hu, Xiao-liang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel SP Birkhäuser Verlag Basel 01.10.2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Age; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Allergology; Arteriosclerosis; Atherogenesis; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Carotid artery; Carotid Stenosis - blood; Carotid Stenosis - genetics; Carotid Stenosis - immunology; CD25 antigen; CD4 antigen; Cells, Cultured; Chemokine CCL2 - genetics; Cytokines - blood; Dermatology; Female; Forkhead protein; Forkhead Transcription Factors - genetics; Foxp3 protein; Helper cells; Humans; Immunology; Interleukin 10; Interleukin 17; Interleukin 23; Interleukin 6; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - cytology; Lymphocytes T; Male; Middle Aged; Neurology; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 - genetics; Original Research Paper; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Plaques; Rheumatology; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - immunology; Th17 Cells - immunology; Transcription factors; Transforming growth factor- beta 1; Tumor necrosis factor- alpha; Th17/Treg cells; Atherosclerotic plaque; Chronic inflammation; Cytokine
• ISSN: 1023-3830; 1420-908X; 1420-908X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00011-012-0510-2

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.