Frequency and phenotype of T helper 17 cells in peripheral blood and synovial fluid of patients with reactive arthritis.

Shen, Hui; Goodall, Jane C; Gaston, J S Hill · J Rheumatol · 2010

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

To analyze the frequency and phenotype of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and synovial fluid mononuclear cell (SFMC) T helper (Th)17 cells in reactive arthritis (ReA). T cell surface phenotype and cytokine production were measured following stimulation, using 8-color flow cytometry. The percentages of interleukin 17 (IL-17)-positive CD4+ T cells were increased in SFMC of patients with ReA compared with PBMC. All IL-17+ cells were CD4+CD45RO+; in SFMC most expressed CCR6, but only 50% expressed CCR4. IL-17+ cells sometimes coexpressed IL-22 and/or interferon-γ, but not IL-10. These data support the hypothesis that Th17 cells are involved in ReA pathogenesis.

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