Th17/Treg balance and factors related to autoimmune hepatitis

Abstract

Background: Although Th17 cells and regulatory T cells play critical roles in autoimmune hepatitis, the balance between them in acute and chronic immune hepatitis is not well-studied. The objective of this study was to explore the role of Th17/Treg balance in autoimmune hepatitis. Methods: Thirty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into the following three groups: acute model (AC), chronic model (CC), and healthy control (HC). Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and bilirubin levels were measured. Peripheral blood interleukin (IL)-17, IL-6, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-β cytokine levels were also assessed. Flow cytometry was used to detect changes in the Th17 cell and Treg cell frequency, and the Th17/Treg ratio was calculated. Results: The frequency of Th17 cells and Treg cells were both increased (p < 0.05) and the Th17/Treg ratio was higher in the AC group compared with those in the HC group (p < 0.05). Th17 cell levels were significantly lower and Treg cell levels were significantly higher in the CC group, compared with those in the AC group (p < 0.05). In addition, the Th17/ Treg ratio was lower in the CC group compared with that in the HC group (p < 0.05). Conclusion:The Th17/Treg ratio was increased in the acute immune liver injury model and decreased in the chronic liver injury model. Th17/Treg imbalance may play a critical role in liver injury occurrence and development.K E Y W O R D S α-galcer, autoimmune hepatitis, ConA, Th17 cells, Treg cells Key points• Different liver damage caused by different modeling types will further explain the role of Th17/Treg imbalance in autoimmune hepatitis, and this imbalance has important implications for changes in immune status and disease progression. • In this study, α-galactosylceramide was used to establish the autoimmune hepatitis model, which shows similar pathological manifestations as that in human autoimmune hepatitis.