AB0762 THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PERIPHERAL LYMPHOCYTE SUBSETS IN PATIENTS WITH IGG4-RELATED DISEASE
Authors: Wang Y. Y. , Yu X. , Su R. , LI X. , Wang C. 
Published: May 2021

Background:

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an autoimmune disease with chronic systemic inflammation and fibrosis. The main feature of the disease was diffuse swell of the affected organs, and the serum IgG4 level was increased. Histopathology of the lesions showed infiltration of IgG4+ plasma cells. However, the pathogenesis of IgG4-RD is still unclear[1].

Objectives:

To explore the clinical characteristic of lymphocyte subsets of IgG4-related disease patients, and make comparisons with healthy controls.

Methods:

A total of 31 patients with IgG4-RD who were admitted to the Rheumatic Immunology Department of the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2016 to June 2020 were included. We collected their Clinical and laboratory data, and selected 30 age and sex matched healthy people as the control group. Flow cytometry was used to detect the percentage and absolute number of lymphocyte subsets (T, B, NK, CD4+T, CD8+T) and CD4+T subsets (Th1, Th2, Th17, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg) in peripheral blood of IgG4-RD patients and healthy controls.

Results:

(1)The percentage of CD4+T cells in peripheral blood of IgG4-RD patients was higher than that of healthy controls [45.00(33.97-51.48) vs. 39.36(33.78-43.30), P<0.05]. (2)The percentage and absolute number of Th17 cells was increased in IgG4-RD patients [1.13(0.70-1.55) vs. 0.77(0.43-1.07), P<0.05; 7.90(5.20-12.23) vs. 5.60(3.12-8.47), P<0.05], while the percentage of Treg cells was decreased [3.37(2.82-5.65) vs. 4.96(4.18-6.34), P<0.01]. But Treg cells number showed no difference between the two groups. (3) Th17/Treg ratio was significantly increased in IgG4-RD patients [0.29(0.16-0.46) vs. 0.15(0.08-0.23), P<0.01], and it was positively correlated with IgG4-RD response index score(r=0.491, P<0.01). (Table 1).

Table 1.

Comparation of absolute number and percentage of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets between IgG4-RD patients(n=31) and healthy controls (n=30).

cell subsetsIgG4-RD (n=31)HC(n=30)P valueB150.59(120.14-212.38)203.27(152.90-244.27)0.089B%8.74(6.46-11.45)10.03(8.26-13.21)0.059NK261.98(178.82-303.08)290.83(179.93-451.45)0.175NK%13.14(9.92-18.10)16.50(11.24-21.75)0.105CD3+T1357.44(992.00-1844.82)1305.81(978.24-1597.94)0.708 CD3+T%72.62(69.32-76.96)71.62(64.97-75.25)0.135CD8+T436.40(342.71-596.86)513.50(359.73-620.53)0.665CD8+T%24.26(19.48-31.27)26.50(20.67-32.90)0.535CD4+T741.00(562.78-1095.52)664.50(585.52-789.97)0.428CD4+T%45.00(33.97-51.48)39.36(33.78-43.30)0.032Th1162.32(108.11-216.61)144.27(81.52-161.66)0.094Th1%19.00(15.24-25.54)18.46(14.86-24.27)0.644Th27.82(5.35-11.78)8.25(5.32-10.87)0.817Th2%1.00(0.76-1.27)1.24(0.89-1.64)0.399Th177.90(5.20-12.23)5.60(3.12-8.47)0.010Th17%1.13(0.70-1.55)0.77(0.43-1.07)0.026Treg24.45(19.76-44.79)34.55(27.29-46.57)0.076Treg%3.37(2.82-5.65)4.96(4.18-6.34)0.003Th1/Th220.00(13.78-36.36)14.97(10.31-21.58)0.135Th1/Treg5.72(2.92-8.86)3.68(2.53-4.77)0.021Th2/Treg0.27(0.16-0.52)0.22(0.15-0.32)0.199Th17/Treg0.29(0.16-0.46)0.15(0.08-0.23)0.002

Conclusion:

Th17/Treg immune disorder exists in IgG4-RD patients, and it is related to the disease activity, indicating that Th17/Treg imbalance may be an important pathogenesis of IgG4-RD.

References:

[1]Kamisawa T, Zen Y, Pillai S, et al. IgG4-related disease[J]. Lancet, 2015, 385(9976): 1460-1471.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared