Objective To analyze the level of Th17 and Treg cells in the peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA),and to investigate its role in the pathogenesis of RA and the clinical significance.Methods Flow cytometry(FCM)was used to analyze the ratio of interleukin(IL)-17+CD4+T (Thl7)cells and Foxp3+CD25+CD4+T(Treg)cells in CD4+T cells from the peripheral blood of 57 RA patients and 32 normal controls.T-test and Chi-square test were used for inter-group comparison and Pearson's linear analysis was used for correlation analysis.Resuits Compared with normal controls.the level of both IL-17+CD4+T cells and the ratio of Th17/Treg in RA patients increased significantly.while the level of Foxp3+CD4+CD25+T cells decreased markedly[(4.2±2.2)%vs(2.3±1.4)%,P=0.000;1.15±0.62 I)5 0.34±0.17,P=0.000;(3.9±1.6)%vs(7.0±2.2)%,P=0.000].Compared with early RA(persistent for 2 years or less)patients,the levels of Th17,Treg and the ratio of Th17/Treg in chronic RA(duration for more than 2 years)patients didn't markedly changed(P>0.05).The level of Th17 cells and the ratio of Th17/Treg was directlycorrelated with disease activity parameter (including tender ioint counts,visual analog seale of patients,disease activitv score in 28 joints,etc).Regression analysis discovered that risk factors of bone erosion were the level of Th17 cells,the ratio of Th17/Treg,disease activity score in 28 joints and disease duration.Antirheumatic drugs could decreascthe ratio of Th 17/Treg.Conclusions Treg cells is decreased in RA patients while Th7 cells is increased in patients with RA.Th17/Treg ratio goes up significantly as well.Change of T celt subsets,especially Th17 and Treg cells are important for the pathogenesis of RA.Th17 and Treg cells could aggrevate disease activity and bone destruction throughout the whole disease process.Anti-rheumatic medications is effective by regulating Th17/Treg subset balance.

objective To detect the serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF)and interlbukin (IL)-17,IL-23 levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients with atherosclerosis and to analyze the association between them and their role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients.Methods Total of 69 patients with RA were divided into atherosclerosis group(AS group)and those without atherosclerosis group(NAS group)according to neck vascular ultrasonography.Sixty-four healthy controls(the control group)were also enrolled into this study.MIF and IL-17,IL-23 levels were determined bv ELISA assay.The t test of two independent-samples and One-way ANOVA were used to compare the levels of MIF.IL-17 and IL-23 in different groups of patients and healthy individuals.The correlation between diffrent paramenters was assesed by Pearson's coefficient of correlation and Logistic regression.Results The serum MIF level in the AS group was significantly higher than that in the NAS group and healthy controls(15.2±1.7,13.8±2.2,8.0±2.9,P<0.05),and there were significant correlations between the serum MIF concentration,carotid intima-media thickness(IMT)(r=0.271,P=0.036).the size of atherosclerotic plaques(r=0.291,P=0.024),the serum level of IL-17(r=0.328,P=0.007)and IL-23(r=0.316,p=0.010).The serum IL-17 and IL-23 level in the AS group was higher than healthy controls(2.8±2.0 vs 2.0±0.8,449±174 vs 341±113),while there were no significant differences between AS group and NAS group.The serum MIF level in RA patients was positively correlated with atherosclerosis according to Logistic regression analysis.Conclusion The serum MIF level in RA patients with AS is significantly higher than that in NAS group and healthy controls,and it may be related with the serum level of IL-17 and IL-23.The elevated serum MIF level may be a predictor for atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of Tofacitinib combined with leflunomide in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its effects on Janus Kinase (JAK)/signal transduction and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway-related proteins and Matrix metalloproteinase levels in serum of patients with RA.Methods:This was a prospective case-control study. A total of 80 patients with RA in our hospital from March 2020 to September 2021 were included into the study. They were divided into observation group and control group by random number table method, with 40 cases in each group. The patients in observation group were treated with Tofacitinib combined with leflunomide, while the patients in control group were treated with leflunomide alone. After 12 weeks of continuous treatment, the curative effect of the two groups was observed. Typical clinical manifestation [including Visual analogue scale (VAS) score of joint pain, number of tenderness joints, number of swollen joints, time of morning stiffness], disease activity score uses 28 joint counts (DAS28) scores, the MOS item short from health survey (SF-36) total scores and serum JAK3, STAT3, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) levels were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. The adverse effects of the two groups were also analyzed. Chi-square test, paired sample t test, independent sample t test and Fisher exact probability method were used for statistical analysis. Results:After 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment, the american college of rheumatology (ACR)20 compliance rates in the observation group were 37.5%(15/40), 62.5%(25/40) and 80.0%(32/40), respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group at the same period [17.5%(7/40), 37.5%(15/40), 57.5%(23/40); χ2=4.01, P=0.045; χ2=5.00, P=0.025; χ2=4.71, P=0.030]. After 8 and 12 weeks of treatment, the ACR50 compliance rates in the observation group were [35.0%(14/40) and 47.5%(19/40), respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group at the same period 15.0%(6/40) and 20.0%(8/40), χ2=4.27, P=0.039; χ2=6.76, P=0.009]. After treatment, the joint pain VAS score, number of tenderness joints, number of swollen joints, DAS28 scores and SF-36 total scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group( t=5.55, P<0.001; t=9.98, P<0.001; t=11.77, P<0.001; t=4.50, P<0.001; t=5.28, P<0.001), and time of morning stiffness was shorter than that in the control group ( t=4.76, P<0.001). After treatment, The serum levels of JAK3, STAT3, IL-6, IL-17, MMP-3, MMP-9 and MMP-13 in the obser vation group were (2 354±476) pg/ml, (1.04±0.17) ng/ml, (12.4±2.8) pg/ml, (30±5) pg/mL, (65±14) μg/L, (76±12) μg/L, (11.5±1.8) μg/L, which were lower than those in control group [(2 715±584) pg/ml (1.22±0.29) ng/mL, (16.8±3.6) pg/ml, (40±7) pg/ml, (98±15) μg/L, (123±20) μg/L, (14.9±2.8) μg/L, t=3.03, P<0.05; t=3.39, P<0.05; t=6.10, P<0.05; t=7.35, P<0.05; t=10.17, P<0.05; t=12.74, P<0.05; t=6.46, P<0.05]. The adverse reaction rate of the observation group [35.0%(14/40)] had no statistically significant difference compared with that in the control group [27.5%(11/40)]( χ2=0.52, P=0.469). Conclusion:The overall effect of Tofacitinib com bined with leflunomide in the treatment of RA is satisfactory and it is a safe and effective way to improve the clinical manifestation, disease activity and quality of life of patients with RA. The effect may be related to the significant down-regulation of the expression levels of Serum JAK/STAT signaling pathway-related Proteins and MMPs.