Analysis of new effector T cells named TH17 cells in peripheral blood of patients with rhenmatoid arthritis
Objective To investigate the distribution of TH17 cells in peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Methods Intracelluar flow cytometirc detection of TH17 cells in peripheral blood was establised using PHA or PMA + Ion as stimulators in vitro. Thirty-five active and 30 stable RA pa-tients and sex and age paired healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Results The stimulating effect of PMA + Ion was better than that of PHA alone. Under PMA + Ion stimulation, the percentage of TH17 cells in peripheral blood from RA patients and healthy controls was increased significantly(P<0.05). With or with-out PMA + Ion stimulation, such percentage in active group was higher than that of stable group and both of them were higher than that of heathy controls(P<0.05). The distribution profile of TH1 cells was similar to that of TH17 cells. Conclusion There is a distribution abnormality of TH17 cells in peripheral blood of RA patients, which could be used as a new marker for the assessment of immunological condition in RA. 
 
Key words: 
TH17 cells;  Rheumatoid arthritis;  Flow cytometry