Study of the Quantity and Function of Th17 Cells In the Hemocytopenic Patients with Positive BMMNC-Coombs Test

To explore the role of Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of IRP. Methods Forty-three untreated IRP patients, 34 recovered IRP patients and 13 healthy donors were enrolled in this study. The ratio of IL-23R⁺CD4⁺/CD4⁺cells in bone marrow were examined with flow cytometry (FCM). The levels of IL-6, IL-23, IL-17 were measured with ELISA. The expressions of RORγt mRNA ASTAT3 mRNA in BMMNC were measured by semiquantitive RT -PCR. Results The ratio of IL-23R⁺CD4⁺/CD4⁺ cells, the levels of IL-6, IL-23, IL-17 and the expressions of RORγt mRNA and STAT3 mRNA in BMMNC of untreated IRP patients were significantly higher than those of recovered IRP patients (p<0.05); there was no significant difference between those of recovered IRP patients and normal controls (p>0.05). There were significantly positive correlations between the ratio of IL-23R⁺CD4⁺/CD4⁺ cells and CD5⁺CD19⁺/CD19⁺ (p <0.05). There were significantly positive correlations between the levels of IL-17 and CD5⁺CD19⁺/CD19⁺the quantity of BMMNC–antibody (p<0.05); There were significantly positive correlations between the expressions of RORγt mRNA and the ratio of CD5⁺CD19⁺/CD19⁺, the quantity of BMMNC-antibody (p <0.05). There were significantly positive correlations between the ratio of IL-23R⁺CD4⁺/CD4⁺ and the level of IL-17, the expression of STAT3 mRNA (p<0.05). Conclusions There exists increased quantity and hyperfunction of Th17 cells in the IRP patients which induce B cells hyperfunction and production of autoantibodies against the BM hematopoietic cells. Th17 cells might be regarded as new therapeutic target of IRP.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.