[Significance of Thl7/Treg Ratio in aGVHD Occurence after Allo-HSCT]
Ling-Ling Song1, Ke-Tao Lan1, Ling Wang1
1Department of Hematology, Qingdao Central Hospital, Qingdao 266042, Shangdong Province, China.
Objective:
To explore the relationship between Th17 and Treg levels and aGVHD occurence in patients after allo-HSCT.
Methods:
Thirty-nine patients received allo-HSCT were divided into 2 groups: aGVHD group(17 cases) and non-aGVHD group (22 cases). For aGVHD group, the peripheral blood was collected before aGVHD occurence, in occurence and after aGVHD improvement; for non-aGVHD group, the peripheral blood was collected after 1, 2 and 3 months of transplantation. In addition, 16 healthy donors were used as controls, their peripheral blood was collected before mobilization. The Th17 and Treg counts as well as Th17/Treg ratio were detected by flow cytometry.
Results:
Among patients with aGVHD after transplantation, the Th17 count increased, and the Treg count decreased, the Th17/Treg ratio increased before aGVHD occurence, as compared with the patients without aGVHD(P<0.05); but after aGVHD occurence, the Th17 count decreased, Treg count increated, and the Th17/Treg ratio decreased as compared with that before aGVHD occurence (P<0.05). After aGVHD was improved, the Th17/Treg ratio decreased as compared with level before aGVHD occurence (P<0.05). After aGVHD was improved, the Th17/Treg ratio was no statistical different from healthy donors (P>0.05). Among patients without aGVHD after transplantation, the Th17/Treg ratio at 2 and 3 months after transplantation was no statistical different from that of healthy donos(P>0.05).
Conclusion:
The Th17 and Treg levels recoverel showly after transplantation, but the Th17/Treg ratio recoveres after 2 months in the patients after transplantation. The Th17 cells may initiate aGVHD; when aGVHD happened, the Treg level increases, which may regulate the aGVHD ontcome through inhibiting the Th17 cells. The detection of Th17/Treg ratio after transplantation can predict the occurence and outcome of aGVHD.
