寻常型银屑病患者miR-124与Th17 Treg细胞及相关细胞因子表达的关系

 目的探讨寻常型银屑病患者miR-124与Th17 Treg细胞及相关细胞因子表达的相关性。方法选取寻常型银屑病患者100例作为实验组（进行期47例，稳定期53例），同时选取50例体检健康者作为对照组，采集外周血样本；用PCR法检测各组miR-124表达水平；用流式细胞仪检测Th17和Treg细胞数量；用双抗体夹心ELISA法检测各组细胞因子TNF-α、IFN-γ、TGF-β、IL-6、IL-17、IL-21、IL-23水平；采用RT-PCR法检测各组ROR-γt mRNA和Foxp3 mRNA转录水平，同时分析miR-124表达与Th17 Treg细胞及相关细胞因子表达的相关性。结果银屑病进行期组和稳定期组miR-124表达水平均低于对照组（均P<0.05）。对照组Th17、Treg和Th17/Treg水平分别为（0.64±0.31）%、（5.11±1.45）%和（0.13±0.05），均低于银屑病进行期组和稳定期组患者（均P<0.05）。寻常型银屑病进行期和稳定期患者TGF-β的浓度分别为（476.52±34.42）、（471.10±52.39） pg/L，均低于对照组（均P<0.05）；而其他细胞因子TNF-α、IFN-γ、IL-6、IL-17、IL-21和IL-23水平均高于对照组（均P<0.05）。对照组患者ROR-γt mRNA和Foxp3 mRNA值分别为9.14±2.98、2.45±0.97，均高于银屑病进行期组和稳定期组患者（均P<0.05）。对照组miR-124水平与Th17和Treg之间无相关性（r=0.30，P=0.542；r=0.35，P=0.612），而银屑病进行期组和稳定期组患者miR-124水平与Th17和Treg之间均存在相关性（P<0.05）。IFN-γ、TGF-β、IL-17、IL-21和IL-23与miR-124表达之间均存在相关性（均P<0.05）。结论寻常型银屑病患者Th17和Treg细胞的分化失衡与miR-124表达有关，miR-124表达异常减少可能是寻常型银屑病患者发生发展的因素之一。

Relationships between miR 124 expression and Th17 Treg cells or related cytokines in patients with psoriasis vulgaris

ObjectiveTo investigate the correlations of miR-124 expression with Th17 Treg cells or related cytokines in patients with psoriasis vulgaris. MethodsPeripheral blood samples were collected from 100 patients with psoriasis vulgaris, including 43 cases at progressive stage and 53 cases at stable stage, and 50 healthy subjects. The expression levels of miR-124 in each group were measured by PCR, while the numbers of Th17 and Treg cells were assessed by flow cytometry. The levels of cytokines in each group were measured by double antibody sandwich ELISA. RT-PCR was used to measure expression levels of ROR-γt mRNA and Foxp3 mRNA. The correlations between the expression levels of miR-124 and Th17 Treg cells or related cytokines were analyzed. ResultsThe expression levels of miR-124 in both progressive and stable psoriasis groups were lower than those in the controls (P<0.05). The proportions of Th17 and Treg, and Th17/Treg ratio in the controls were (0.64±0.31)%, (5.11±1.45)% and (0.13±0.05) respectively, which were lower than those in the progressive and stable psoriasis groups (all P<0.05). The levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-17, IL-21 and IL-23 were higher in both progressive and stable psoriasis groups than those in the controls (all P<0.05). In contrast, TGF levels were higher in the controls than those in either progressive［(476.52±34.42) pg/mL］ or stable psoriatic patients［(471.10±52.39) pg/mL］ (P<0.05). Similarly, expression levels of ROR-γt mRNA (9.14±2.98) and Foxp3 mRNA (2.45±0.97) in the controls were higher than those in both progressive and stable psoriasis groups (all P<0.05). Expression levels of miR-124 were not correlated with either Th17 or Treg in the controls (r=0.30, P=0.542; r=0.35, P=0.612). However, the levels of miR-124 were correlated with both Th17 or Treg in patients with either progressive or stable psoriasis (P<0.05). Circulatory levels of IFN-γ, TGF-β, IL-17, IL-21 and IL-23 were correlated with expression levels of miR-124 in psoriatic patients (P<0.05). ConclusionsThe imbalance of Th17 and Treg cell differentiation in patients with psoriasis vulgaris is associated with the expression levels of miR-124. Decreased miR-124 expression may be a factor contributing to the development and progression of psoriasis vulgaris.