Expressions of IL-22 in circulating CD4+/CD8+ T cells and their correlation with disease activity in SLE patients

Clin Exp Med. 2011 Dec;11(4):245-50. doi: 10.1007/s10238-011-0134-9. Epub 2011 Apr 13.

Abstract

Recently, Th17 cell-associated responses have received growing attention; however, the role of IL-22 (a cytokines also produced by Th17 cells) in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has not been widely explored. In this study, we analyze the frequencies of IL-22-positive CD4+/CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with SLE and their correlations with disease activity and clinical data. Five-color flow cytometry (FCM) was used to assess IL-22 production of CD4+/CD8+ T cells in PBMCs from 31 patients with SLE and 22 healthy control subjects, following stimulation ex vivo with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin for 4 h. Results showed that the percentages of IL-22-positive CD4+ T cells were increased in the PBMCs of patients with SLE compared with healthy control subjects, whereas there were no significant differences in the percentages of IL-22-positive CD8+ T cells. There was a strong positive correlation between the proportion of CD4+ T cells expressing IL-22 and SLEDAI score (r (s) = 0.65, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the frequencies of IL-22-positive CD4+ T cells were significantly higher in patients with SLE with nephritis than those without nephritis (Z = -2.72, P < 0.01). In conclusion, increased frequencies of IL-22-positive CD4+ T cells in patients with SLE and positive correlation with SLEDAI score and lupus nephritis suggest that this cytokine may be implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-22
  • Interleukins / biosynthesis*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / chemistry
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / pathology*
  • Lupus Nephritis / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Interleukins