Changes of Th17 cells and related cytokines in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients before and after treated with rituximab

Objective To understand the changes of Th17 cells and related cytokines in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients treated with rituximab and its significances.Methods Patients were assigned to 4 groups,there were 20 cases in the control group,31 cases in the initial treatment group,31 cases in CHOP group and 25 cases in RCHOP group.The percentage of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of each group was tested by flow cytometry,the related cytokines IL-17,IL-21,IL-23,TGF-β in the peripheral blood were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results The percentage of Th17 cells and the levels of IL-17,IL-21,IL-23 in the initial treatment group [(0.67±0.21) ％,(5.929±1.342) pg/ml,(130.632±17.945)pg/ml,(51.681±9.808) pg/ml] and the CHOP-CR group [(1.07±0.37) ％,(6.526±0.538) pg/ml,(132.119±7.700)pg/ml,(50.245±7.668) pg/ml] were both significantly lower than those in the control group[(2.53±0.63) ％,(8.435±2.031) pg/ml,(149.265±12.316) pg/ml,(55.303±7.778) pg/ml] (P ＜ 0.05).The level of TGF-β in the initial treatment group [(370.615±98.444) pg/ml] was significantly higher than that in the control group [(311.895±73.365) pg/ml] (P ＜ 0.05).The percentage of Th17 cells and the levels of IL-17,IL-21,IL-23 in the RCHOP-CR group [(2.38±0.59) ％,(7.724±0.780) pg/ml,(148.412±7.355) pg/ml,(55.668±7.532) pg/ml] were significantly higher than those in the initial treatment group [(0.67±0.21) ％,(5.929±1.342) pg/ml,(130.632±17.945) pg/ml,(51.681±9.808) pg/ml] and the CHOP-CR group [(1.07±0.37) ％,(6.526±0.538) pg/ml,(132.119±7.700) pg/ml,(50.245±7.668) pg/ml] (P ＜ 0.05).The level of TGF-β in the RCHOP-CR group[(283.904±59.223) pg/ml] was significantly lower than that in the CHOP-CR group [(341.481±95.597) pg/ml] (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Th17 cells might be negatively correlated with the DLBCL development,the reduced IL-23 and elevated TGF-β might suppress the differentiation of Th17 cells.Rituximab could elevate the percentage of Th17 cells in DLBCL patients,and it is related with the effect of chemotherapy. Key words: Lymphoma, large B-cell, diffuse;  Rituximab;  Th17 cells;  Interleukin-17; Interleukin-21;  Interleukin-23;  Transforming growth factor beta