The clinical significance of intrahepatic Th22 cells in liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Th22 cells are a recently identified CD4+ T helper subset and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of certain diseases in humans, but the role of Th22 cells in liver cirrhosis (LC) remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the expression and clinical significance of intrahepatic Th22 cells in LC tissues.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Samples of liver tissue of 20 LC patients and 12 normal controls (NC) were collected. Interleukin 22 (IL-22), IL-22R1 mRNA and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) expression were examined using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The protein expression of Th22 and CD4+ cells in liver tissue was measured with immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: The number of intrahepatic Th22 and CD4+ cells increased markedly in LC patients and the number of Th22 cells positively correlated with the number of CD4+ cells (p < 0.05). Moreover, the number of Th22 cells positively correlated with the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), as well as the Child-Pugh score in LC patients (p < 0.05). The expression of IL-22, IL-22R1 and AHR in LC patients was significantly increased compared with the NC group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the expression of intrahepatic Th22 cells increased in LC patients and was associated with the progression of LC.