Increased circulating Th22 cells correlated with Th17 cells in patients with severe preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate Th22 cells and their association with Th17 and Treg cells in the etiology of severe preeclampsia (sPE).

METHODS: Thirty sPE patients and 30 healthy pregnant women were recruited in this study. The percentages of Th17, Th22, and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the peripheral blood were measured by flow cytometry. ELISA was used to measure the plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-17, IL-22, and IL-10.

RESULTS: The percentages of Th17 and Th22 cells and the plasma concentrations of IL-17 and IL-22 were significantly increased in sPE patients along with a decreased percentage of Treg cells and a decreased plasma IL-10 concentration. There was a positive correlation between the levels of Th22 cells and Th17 cells in sPE patients. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between plasma IL-22 concentration and the percentage of Th22 cells in sPE patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Increased circulating Th22 cells, which were correlated with Th17 cells, were observed in patients with sPE. The immune imbalance between T helper (Th) cells may contribute to the pathogenesis of sPE.