Objective:To investigate the role of T helper 9(Th9) cells in liver cirrhosis(LC) patients and whether chemokine receptor type 6(CCR6)/chemokine ligand 20(CCL20) axis is involving in the recruitment of Th9 cells into liver.Methods:Peripheral blood and liver tissue from 30 LC patients and 18 normal controls were recruited.The frequency of Th9 cells and CCR4,CCR6 in the peripheral blood was tested by flow cytometry.Serum interleukin(IL)-9 and CCL20 levels were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect a-smooth muscle actin,CCR6 and CCL20 expression in liver tissue.Results:The frequency of Th9 cells in LC patients was significantly increased compared with controls(P < 0.05).The serum IL-9 level and CCL20 level increased markedly in LC patients compared with controls(P < 0.05),and IL-9 was positively correlated to Th9 cells and CCL20.Furthermore,the frequency of Th9 cells was correlated to prothrombin time,total bilirubin level,hyaluronic acid and type IV collagen in LC patients.We also found that Th9 cells in LC patients expressed higher frequency of CCR4+,CCR6+(P < 0.05).Compared with normal controls,the expression of CCR6 and CCL20 in LC tissue were significantly elevated(P < 0.05).The expression of a-smooth muscle actin was correlated to the CCR6 and CCL20 in liver tissue of LC patients.Conclusions:This study suggests that Th9 cells may participate in the pathogenesis of LC,and the recruitment of Th9 cells into liver tissue might be through CCL20/CCR6 axis.
Objective: IL-22-producing CD4+ T helper cells(Th22 cells) have been identified as major inducers of tissue inflammation and immune responses. Currently, no previous study explored the role of Th22 cells in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). The study aimed to determine the biological function of Th22 cells and its effector IL-22 in HCC patients.Methods: Forty-five HCC patients and 19 healthy controls were recruited and their peripheral blood was collected. The fresh HCC tissues, adjacent HCC tissues and ten normal liver tissues were also collected. Flow cytometry analysis was used to determine the frequencies of circulating Th22 cells and Th17 cells. Serum IL-22 levels were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Immunohistochemical staining and real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR) were used to detect IL-22 protein and mRNA in tissues specimens, respectively.Results: Circulating Th22 cells, Th17 cells and serum IL-22 levels were significantly elevated in HCC patients compared with those of healthy controls(P<0.001). Th22 cells were showed to be positively correlated with IL-22 in HCC patients(P<0.05), but not in healthy controls. No significant differences were found in HCC patients with HBeAg positivity or negativity in term of Th22 cells and serum IL-22 levels. The expression of IL-22 protein and mRNA was highest in HCC tissues, followed by adjacent HCC tissues and normal liver tissues. Furthermore, Th22 cells, serum IL-22 levels and IL-22 mRNA were elevated at stage III-IV compared with stage I-II of HCC(P<0.05).Conclusions: Elevation of circulating Th22 cells and IL-22 may be implicated in the pathogenesis of HCC, and potentially be cellular targets for therapeutic intervention.
