Changes and clinical significances of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage

Abstract

This study aims to explore the changes and clinical significances of T helper 17 (Th17) cells in the peripheral blood of patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage. The percentage of Th17 cells were assessed by flow cytometry. The mRNA levels of retinoid-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt) were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase⁃polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The serum levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). According to the examination results, the percentage of Th17 cells, the mRNA expression of RORγt and the serum levels of IL-17 at 24 h, 3 d and 7 d increased significantly in patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage than in normal controls (P = 0.000, for all). Although the patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage had no significant differences in the percentage of Th17 cells, the mRNA expression of ROR γ t comparable with normal controls (P = 0.058, 0.239), the serum levels of IL-17 in patients were statistically higher than those in normal controls at 14 d (P = 0.000). The percentage of Th17 cells and the serum levels of IL-17 increase in the peripheral blood of patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage, suggesting Th17 cells may participate in the occurrence and development of cerebral hemorrhage.