Objective To investigate the levels of T helper cell 17 (Th17), Th17-related cytokines in-terleukin 17 (IL-17) and interleukin 23 (IL-23) and regulatory T cell (Treg) in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Methods In a case-control study, plasma was collected from RRMS patients (n=20) and healthy subjects as control group (n=20). The percentages of Th17 and Treg cells and the levels of IL-17 and IL-23 were tested. The levels of Th17, Treg, IL-17 and IL-23 of the two groups were compared. Patients were treated with methylprednisolone. The levels of Th17, Treg, IL-17 and IL-23 of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients b efore and after treatment were compared. Expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score and the number of Gd-enhancing lesions were evaluated in the case group. Statistical analysis was made by body mass index (IBM) statistical program for social sciences (SPSS) 17.0 software. Independent sample t test was conducted to compare the measurement data of the case group and the healthy control group, and enumeration data were compared by χ2 test; paired sample t test was performed to compare the data of the case group before and after treatment; Pearson correlation analysis was made forthe variables of the MS group before treatment. Results In the RRMS group, the percentage of Th17 cells in peripheral blood was significantly higher than the control group [(2.10±0.45)％vs (1.09±0.20)％](t=9.130, P<0.01), the levels of Th17-related cytokines IL-17 and IL-23 were remarkably higher than the control group (IL-17:t=19.843, P<0.01;IL-23:t=22.747, P<0.01), and the percentage of Treg cells was significantly lower than the control group [(1.33 ±0.30)％vs (2.52±0.30)％], (t=12.422, P<0.01). The levels of Th17 and IL-17 were positively associated with EDSS score (Th17: r=0.458, P<0.05; IL-17: r=0.480, P<0.05), there was no significant-correlation between the level of IL-23 and EDSS score (r=0.368, P>0.05), and Th17, IL-17 and IL-23 were positively correlated with the number of Gd-enhancing lesions (Th17: r=0.446, P<0.05; IL-17: r=0.544, P<0.05; IL-23: r=0.461, P<0.05). The levels of Th17, IL-17 and IL-23 in the RRMS group after the treatment with methylprednisolone were obviously decreased than before treatment (Th17: t=5.747, P<0.01; IL-17: t=9.967, P<0.01; IL-23: t=14.697, P<0.01), while that of Treg was apparently increased (t=10.050, P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the levels of Th17, IL-17 and IL-23 in the RRMS group after treatment were higher (Th17: t=6.889, P<0.01;IL-17:t=7.185, P<0.01;IL-23:t=13.284, P<0.01), and the percentage of Treg was lower (t=7.622, P<0.01). EDSS score of the RRMS group after treatment was remarkably decreased than before treatment(t=6.190, P<0.01), but the number of Gd-enhanced lesions after treatment was no significantiy changed (t=1.453, P>0.05). Conclusion Th17/Treg expression imbalance and Th17-related cytokines IL-17, IL-23 may participate in the pathological process of MS, and they might be therapeutic target for MS.

Objective:To analyze the functional connectivity (FC) characteristics of sensory motor network (SMN) in patients with bipolar disorder type Ⅰ (BD-Ⅰ) by independent component analysis (ICA), and explore the correlation between abnormal SMN and clinical symptoms.Methods:Eighteen patients with BD-Ⅰ (BD-Ⅰ group) and 20 matched normal controls (HC group) were included.Both groups received resting state fMRI (rs-fMRI) scanning.Based on ICA-fMRI data, one-sample t-test and two-sample t-test were used to analyze the components of SMN and to explore abnormal brain regions between the two groups.Functional network analysis (FNC) was also used to explore the functional connectivity between SMN and other brain networks.Pearson correlation analysis were conducted by SPSS 17.0 to measure the potential associations between intra-and inter-network functional connectivity and age, education, score of Bech-Rafaelsen mania rating scale (BRMS), score of positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) and other indicators. Results:In BD-Ⅰ group, the functional connection in the right paracentral lobule (MIN: x=8, y=-32, z=68, t=4.86, P<0.001) and the right postcentral gyrus (MIN: x=41, y=-26, z=53, t=3.33, P<0.001) in SMN were higher than those in HC group.Compared with HC group, the connectivity value in patients with BD-Ⅰ increased between SMN-DAN (0.247±0.073, -0.078±0.080, t=-2.974, P<0.01, FDR adjusted), while the connectivity value decreased between SMN-DMN(-0.037±0.054, 0.272±0.067, t=3.520, P<0.01, FDR adjusted) and between SMN-rFPN(-0.034±0.055, 0.231±0.070, t=2.939, P<0.01, FDR adjusted). Conclusion:The sensorimotor network of patients with BD-Ⅰ has abnormal functional connections within and between networks, and FC values in some networks are positively correlated with manic symptoms, which may be part of the neural mechanisms of patients with BD-Ⅰ.