Th-17 cells and serum IL-17 in rheumatoid arthritis patients: Correlation with disease activity and severity

• Published in: Egyptian rheumatologist 2016-01, Vol.38 (1), p.1-7
• Main Authors: Al-Saadany, Hanan M., Hussein, Manal S., Gaber, Rasha A., Zaytoun, Hossam A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Rheumatoid arthritis; Serum IL-17; Th17 cells
• ISSN: 1110-1164; 2090-2433
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejr.2015.01.001

To investigate the role of T-helper 17 (Th17) cells in peripheral blood and serum interleukin-17 (IL-17) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and their correlation with disease activity and joint destruction. This study included forty RA patients and twenty matched healthy controls. Disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS-28), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-CCP, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), serum IL-17 and Th17 cells in peripheral blood were measured. Radiological assessment using modified Sharp/van der Heijde (mSvH) score for hand and feet in addition to MRI score for the wrist and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints were performed for detection of synovitis and bone erosion. The patients were 38 females and 2 males with a mean of 41.15±5.85years and disease duration of 15.6±4.62years. Serum IL-17 and Th17 cells in peripheral blood were found to be significantly increased in RA patients (204.1±33.8pg/ml and 4.62±1.13%) than in controls (25.36±5.39pg/ml and 0.7±0.021%) (p