Serum miR-21 and LTB4 Levels and Their Relationship with Th17/Treg Balance in Patients with Dermatomyositis
LI Zhifeng
SHI Maohua
CHEN Guoqiang
Abstract：Objective To explore the relationship between serum microRNA-21(miR-21),leukotriene B4(LTB4),and the balance of T helper cells 17(Th17)and T regulatory cells(Treg)in patients with dermatomyositis.Methods A total of 121 patients with dermatomyositis,treated in Foshan First People's Hospital from January 2021 to February 2024 were selected as the dermatomyositis group.Based on the disease activity,they were divided into the active phase group(63 cases)and the remission phase group(58 cases).Additionally,121 healthy individuals undergoing physical examination during the same peri-od were selected as the control group.Serum miR-21 levels,RORγt mRNA,and FOXP3 mRNA were detected using real-time quantitative PCR.Serum LTB4,interleukin-6(IL-6),IL-10,IL-17A,and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-[31)levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The proportion of Th 17 and Treg in peripheral blood was detected by flow cytometry,and the Th17/Treg ratio was calculated.Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between serum miR-21,LTB4 levels,and Th 17/Treg-related factors,as well as the Th17,Treg proportions,and Th17/Treg ratio in pe-ripheral blood of dermatomyositis patients.Results Compared with the control group,the dermatomyositis group had sig-nificantly elevated serum levels of miR-21,LTB4,IL-6,IL-17A,RORγt mRNA,and higher Th17 proportion and Th17/Treg ratio in peripheral blood,while serum levels of IL-10,TGF-β1,FOXP3 mRNA,and Treg proportion in peripheral blood were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the remission phase group,the active phase group showed elevated serum levels of miR-21,LTB4,IL-6,IL-17A,RORγt mRNA,and increased Th17 proportion and Th17/Treg ratio,along with decreased serum levels of IL-10,TGF-β1,FOXP3 mRNA,and Treg proportion in peripheral blood(P＜0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that in dermatomyositis patients,serum miR-21 and LTB4 lev-els were positively correlated with serum IL-6,IL-17A,RORγt mRNA levels,and Th17 proportion and Th17/Treg ratio in peripheral blood,while negatively correlated with serum IL-10,TGF-β1,FOXP3 mRNA levels,and Treg proportion in peripheral blood(P＜0.05).Conclusion Elevated serum miR-21 and LTB4 levels in dermatomyositis patients may contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of the disease by modulating the Th17/Treg balance.
Keywords：DermatomyositisMicroRNA-21Leukotriene B4T helper cells 17/T regulatory cells balance
Publication Date：2024-10-28
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 1364-1368,1373 )