Th17/Treg imbalance in adult patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome

Li-Li Liu; Yan Qin; Jian-Fang Cai; Hai-Yun Wang; Jian-Ling Tao; Hang Li; Li-Meng Chen; Ming-Xi Li; Xue-Mei Li; Xue-Wang Li

doi:10.1016/j.clim.2011.02.018

Th17/Treg imbalance in adult patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome

Clin Immunol. 2011 Jun;139(3):314-20. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2011.02.018. Epub 2011 Mar 1.

Authors

Li-Li Liu¹, Yan Qin, Jian-Fang Cai, Hai-Yun Wang, Jian-Ling Tao, Hang Li, Li-Meng Chen, Ming-Xi Li, Xue-Mei Li, Xue-Wang Li

Affiliation

¹ Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

PMID: 21450528
DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2011.02.018

Abstract

To determine whether Th17/Treg balance was abnormal in adult patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS), we studied 25 patients with new-onset MCNS and 20 normal persons. The results showed that MCNS patients exhibited a significant increase in Th17 number, Th17-related cytokines (IL-17 and IL-23), and transcription factor (RORγt) levels, as well as an obvious decrease in Treg number, Treg-related cytokines (TGF-β1 and IL-10), and transcription factor (Foxp3) levels. The Th17/Treg ratios increased along with increased proteinuria and decreased albumin levels in patients with MCNS. IL-17 protein expression was also detected in the renal biopsy tissue of MCNS patients, particularly in patients with acute renal failure. Further, Th17/Treg balance returned to normal after effective corticosteroids therapy in 16 MCNS patients. These results indicated that Th17/Treg imbalance existed in MCNS patients, suggesting a potential role of Th17/Treg imbalance in the pathogenesis of MCNS.

MeSH terms

Adult
Biopsy
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Flow Cytometry
Forkhead Transcription Factors / blood
Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
Forkhead Transcription Factors / immunology
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Interleukin-10 / blood
Interleukin-10 / immunology
Interleukin-17 / blood
Interleukin-17 / immunology
Interleukin-23 / blood
Interleukin-23 / immunology
Male
Middle Aged
Nephrosis, Lipoid / blood
Nephrosis, Lipoid / immunology
Nephrosis, Lipoid / pathology
Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / blood
Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / genetics
Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / immunology
RNA / chemistry
RNA / genetics
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / pathology
Th17 Cells / immunology*
Th17 Cells / pathology
Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / blood
Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / immunology

Substances

FOXP3 protein, human
Forkhead Transcription Factors
Interleukin-17
Interleukin-23
Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3
Transforming Growth Factor beta1
Interleukin-10
RNA