Study on the Th1/Th2 balance in patients of children with systemic lupus erythmatosus (SLE)

Qiu J-J, Teng Q, He X-H

Beijing Children’s Hospital, Beijing, China

 

Objective: To investigate the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance in the peripheral blood of SLE patients of children.

Method: The Th1/Th2 ratio was analyzed in 42 SLE patients of children and 12 matched nomal controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were stained for intracelluler cytokines such as IFN-g (stand for Th1-type cell) and IL-4 (stand for Th2-type cell) by enzyme linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT). The relative percentage of the two types of cells represent the Th1/Th2 ratio.

Results: There was no difference in the mean Th1/Th2 ratio between the SLE patients and healty controls. However, the Th1/Th2 ratio was significantly higher in SLE patients with organ impairment (especially with the renal impairment).

Conclusion: A shift toward Th1 cytokines profile is observed in SLE patients with tissue damage.

 

 
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