Background: T helper 17 (Th17) cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) are derived from naive CD4þ T cells. It remains contentious as to whether the balance between Th17 and Tregs is disturbed in leprosy patients. In this study, the expression of transcription factors and cytokines was examined in Th17 and Tregs from skin lesions of leprosy patients, in order to further investigate the potential role of TGF-b, RORgt, IL-10, IL-17, and FOXP3 in the pathogenesis of leprosy.
Methods: Sixty leprosy patients and twenty healthy subjects, matched for age and gender, were recruited. Immunohistochemical staining was carried out, and the results were analysed using a semi-quantitative scoring system.
Results: The expression of RORgt was increased in borderline lepromatous leprosy (BL), borderline tuberculoid leprosy (BT), and tuberculoid leprosy (TT) groups. Interestingly, RORgt expression was lower in lepromatous leprosy (LL) than in other types of leprosy. However, there was no significant difference in the expression of IL-17 between leprosy groups and healthy controls. The expression of FOXP3 was significantly increased in all types of leprosy when compared with healthy controls. The expression of IL-10 was increased in BL, LL and TT groups, but was lower in the BT group than in other types of leprosy (P, 0·05). The expression of TGF-b was markedly increased in BL, BT, and LL groups (P , 0·05).
Conclusions: The transcription factors and cytokines in Th17 and Tregs may be involved in the pathogenesis of leprosy and further research could provide a novel therapeutic target for leprosy.
Background: T helper 17 (Th17) cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) are derived from naive CD4þ T cells. It remains contentious as to whether the balance between Th17 and Tregs is disturbed in leprosy patients. In this study, the expression of transcription factors and cytokines was examined in Th17 and Tregs from skin lesions of leprosy patients, in order to further investigate the potential role of TGF-b, RORgt, IL-10, IL-17, and FOXP3 in the pathogenesis of leprosy.
Methods: Sixty leprosy patients and twenty healthy subjects, matched for age and gender, were recruited. Immunohistochemical staining was carried out, and the results were analysed using a semi-quantitative scoring system.
Results: The expression of RORgt was increased in borderline lepromatous leprosy (BL), borderline tuberculoid leprosy (BT), and tuberculoid leprosy (TT) groups. Interestingly, RORgt expression was lower in lepromatous leprosy (LL) than in other types of leprosy. However, there was no significant difference in the expression of IL-17 between leprosy groups and healthy controls. The expression of FOXP3 was significantly increased in all types of leprosy when compared with healthy controls. The expression of IL-10 was increased in BL, LL and TT groups, but was lower in the BT group than in other types of leprosy (P, 0·05). The expression of TGF-b was markedly increased in BL, BT, and LL groups (P , 0·05).
Conclusions: The transcription factors and cytokines in Th17 and Tregs may be involved in the pathogenesis of leprosy and further research could provide a novel therapeutic target for leprosy.