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Decreased Plasma IL ‐22 Levels and Correlations with IL ‐22‐Producing T Helper Cells in Patients with New‐Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Author(s) -
Lin J.,
Yue L. H.,
Chen W. Q.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/sji.12135
Subject(s) - immunology , autoantibody , pathogenesis , erythrocyte sedimentation rate , medicine , flow cytometry , lupus erythematosus , hydroxychloroquine , interleukin , endocrinology , cytokine , antibody , disease , covid-19 , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Interleukin‐22 ( IL ‐22) and IL ‐22‐producing T helper ( T h) cells are involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. However, the roles of IL ‐22 and IL ‐22‐producing T helper cells in systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE ) remain unclear. Plasma levels of IL ‐22 were measured in 41 patients with SLE (19 new‐onset and 22 relapsing patients) and 20 healthy controls by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ). Meanwhile, the percentages of CD 4 + IFN ‐ γ + (Th1), CD 4 + IL ‐17 + (Th17) and CD 4 + IFN ‐ γ − IL ‐17 − IL ‐22 + ( T h22) cells in peripheral lymphocytes were determined by flow cytometry, and plasma IL ‐22 autoantibodies were detected by ELISA in 19 new‐onset SLE patients and 20 healthy controls. Plasma IL ‐22 levels in new‐onset SLE patients were significantly decreased compared with relapsing SLE patients and healthy controls. After treatment with prednisone and hydroxychloroquine, the levels of plasma IL ‐22 in new‐onset SLE patients were obviously increased but still lower than healthy controls. There was a positive correlation between plasma IL ‐22 levels and the percentages of T h22 cells, but not T h1 and T h17 cells. Moreover, plasma IL ‐22 levels as well as peripheral T h17 and T h22 cells correlated with SLE disease activity index ( SLEDAI ) scores and erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( ESR ). High frequencies of plasma IL ‐22 autoantibodies were detected in new‐onset SLE patients. However, IL ‐22 levels did not correlate with IL ‐22 autoantibody. Decreased plasma IL ‐22 levels and correlation with T h22 cells may be distinct features in new‐onset SLE . Moreover, IL ‐22 and T h22 cell correlated with SLE disease activity.