J Korean Med Sci.  2018 Dec;33(52):e336. 10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e336.

Mucosal Immunity Related to FOXP3⁺ Regulatory T Cells, Th17 Cells and Cytokines in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

• Cho J
• Kim S
• Yang DH
• Lee J
• Park KW
• Go J
• Hyun CL
• Jee Y
• Kang KS

• KMID: 2429597
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e336

Abstract

BACKGROUND
We aimed to investigate mucosal immunity related to forkhead box P3 (FOXP3+) regulatory T (Treg) cells, T helper 17 (Th17) cells and cytokines in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
METHODS
Mucosal tissues from terminal ileum and colon and serum samples were collected from twelve children with IBD and seven control children. Immunohistochemical staining was done using anti-human FOXP3 and anti-RORγt antibodies. Serum levels of cytokines were analyzed using a multiplex assay covering interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A/F, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23, IL-25, IL-31, IL-33, interferon (IFN)-γ, soluble CD40L, and tumor necrosis factor-α.
RESULTS
FOXP3+ Treg cells in the lamina propria (LP) of terminal ileum of patients with Crohn's disease were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those in the healthy controls. RORγt+ T cells of terminal ileum tended to be higher in Crohn's disease than those in the control. In the multiplex assay, serum concentrations (pg/mL) of IL-4 (9.6 ± 1.5 vs. 12.7 ± 3.0), IL-21 (14.9 ± 1.5 vs. 26.4 ± 9.1), IL-33 (14.3 ± 0.9 vs. 19.1 ± 5.3), and IFN-γ (15.2 ± 5.9 vs. 50.2 ± 42.4) were significantly lower in Crohn's disease than those in the control group. However, serum concentration of IL-6 (119.1 ± 79.6 vs. 52.9 ± 39.1) was higher in Crohn's disease than that in the control. Serum concentrations of IL-17A (64.2 ± 17.2 vs. 28.3 ± 10.0) and IL-22 (37.5 ± 8.8 vs. 27.2 ± 3.7) were significantly higher in ulcerative colitis than those in Crohn's disease.
CONCLUSION
Mucosal immunity analysis showed increased FOXP3+ T reg cells in the LP with Crohn's disease while Th17 cell polarizing and signature cytokines were decreased in the serum samples of Crohn's disease but increased in ulcerative colitis.

Keyword

Inflammatory Bowel Disease; FOXP3⁺; Th17; Cytokine

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
CD40 Ligand
Child
Colitis, Ulcerative
Colon
Crohn Disease
Cytokines*
Humans
Ileum
Immunity, Mucosal*
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases*
Interferons
Interleukin-10
Interleukin-17
Interleukin-23
Interleukin-33
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-6
Interleukins
Mucous Membrane
Necrosis
T-Lymphocytes
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory*
Th17 Cells*
Antibodies
CD40 Ligand
Cytokines
Interferons
Interleukin-10
Interleukin-17
Interleukin-23
Interleukin-33
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-6
Interleukins