Relationship between prognosis and Th17 cells together with related cytokines in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients

ZHONG Wei-jie; LI Qing-shan; XU Xin; ZHU Zhi-gang; DENG Jia-de; LING Yan-ying; DU Qing-hu

Abstract：Objective To investigate the correlation of levels of Th 17 related cytokines in diffuse large B -cell lymphoma ( DLBCL) patients with prognosis and its significance .Methods 60 DLBCL patients were divided into two groups according to IPI.There were 32 cases in the low-intermediate risk group (LIR group) and 28 cases in the inter-mediate-high risk group (IHR group).30 cases of healthy individuals served as the control group (C group).The per-centage of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood in each subgroup was tested by flow cytometry .The cytokines IL-17, IL-21, IL-23, and TGF-βin the peripheral blood were measured by enzyme -linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Uni-variate survival analysis was used to analyse the correlation between survival and Th 17 cell percentage in 54 follow-up DLBCL patients.Results ①The percentage of Th17 cells and the levels of IL -17, IL-21 in the IHR group were sig-nificantly lower than that in the LIR group and C group (P<0.05).The level of IL-23 in the IHR group was significant-ly lower than C group .The level of TGF-βin the IHR group was significantly higher than that in the LIR group and C group (P<0.05).②The percentage of Th17 cells and the levels of IL -17 and IL-21 in DLBCL patients were nega-tively correlated with IPI .The level of TGF -βwas positively correlated with IPI .③ The 3-year survival of the high Th17 group and low Th17 group were 82.1%and 45.0%, respectively.Percentage of Th17 cells was an independent fac-tor in the survival of DLBCL patients (P=0.021).Conclusion The percentage of Th17 cells and related cytokines in DLBCL patients are closely correlated with IPI .Percentage of Th17 cells is negatively correlated with IPI .Percentage of Th17 cells is an independent factor in the prognosis of DLBCL patients .Th17 cells might have an inhibitory effect in the development of DLBCL .