Th17 expansion in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's): the role of disease activity, immune regulation and therapy

• Published in: Arthritis research & therapy 2012-10, Vol.14 (5), p.R227-R227, Article R227
• Main Authors: Wilde, Benjamin, Thewissen, Marielle, Damoiseaux, Jan, Hilhorst, Marc, van Paassen, Pieter, Witzke, Oliver, Cohen Tervaert, Jan Willem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Analysis; Antigens, Surface - metabolism; Case-Control Studies; Cell Proliferation; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fluorescence; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis - drug therapy; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis - immunology; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis - pathology; Humans; Interferon-gamma - metabolism; Interleukin-10 - metabolism; Interleukin-17 - metabolism; Middle Aged; Physiological aspects; Severity of Illness Index; Steroids - therapeutic use; T cells; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - metabolism; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - pathology; Th17 Cells - metabolism; Th17 Cells - pathology; Wegener's granulomatosis
• ISSN: 1478-6354; 1478-6362; 1478-6354
• DOI: 10.1186/ar4066

In autoimmune diseases, IL-17 producing T-cells (Th17), a pro-inflammatory subset of T-cells, are pathophysiologically involved. There is little knowledge on the role of Th17 cells in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). In the present study, we investigated Th17 cells, Tregs and subsets of circulating Th17 cells in GPA and related results to disease activity. 42 GPA patients in remission, 18 with active disease and 14 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled. Th17 cells, their subsets and regulatory T-cells were determined by intracellular fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS). Data are given as mean percentage ±SD of total T-helper-cells. Th17 cells are expanded in active and quiescent GPA as compared to HC (1.7±1.4% vs. 0.7 ±0.3%, P = 0.006 and 1.9 ±1.5% vs. 0.7 ±0.3%, P