Table 2.
Changes in levels of Th17-cells and Th17-related cytokines in RA patients with different therapeutic responses
| Moderate-good responders (n = 36) | Non-responders (n = 12) | |
|---|---|---|
| Th17 cells (%) | ||
| Before Rx. | 1.13 ± 0.16 | 2.94 ± 0.77# |
| After Rx. | 0.79 ± 0.11*** | 4.23 ± 0.80* |
| IL-17 level (pg/ml) | ||
| Before Rx | 43.1 ± 7.0 | 92.1 ± 22.2# |
| After Rx | 27.8 ± 3.8*** | 148.6 ± 31.5* |
| IL-6 level (pg/ml) | ||
| Before Rx | 282.9 ± 37.1 | 453.7 ± 120.9 |
| After Rx | 171.7 ± 22.2* | 471.6 ± 124.0 |
| IL-21 level (pg/ml) | ||
| Before Rx | 1147.0 ± 216.3 | 863.5 ± 133.9 |
| After Rx | 769.8 ± 104.7** | 942.9 ± 140.4 |
| IL-23 level (pg/ml) | ||
| Before Rx | 166.1 ± 35.1 | 158.4 ± 67.6 |
| After Rx | 83.3 ± 19.7*** | 161.3 ± 63.3 |
| TNF-α level (pg/ml) | ||
| Before Rx | 22.0 ± 2.4 | 29.2 ± 7.2 |
| After Rx | 11.0 ± 1.3*** | 15.2 ± 3.9** |
| RF titer (IU/ml) | ||
| Before Rx | 116.6 ± 32.7 | 368.7 ± 257.9 |
| After Rx | 101.2 ± 28.2 | 440.0 ± 324.4 |
| Anti-CCP titer (IU/ml) | ||
| Before Rx | 58.7 ± 9.6 | 72.4 ± 22.0 |
| After Rx | 51.8 ± 8.7** | 68.8 ± 20.3 |
Data are presented as mean ± SEM; RA, rheumatoid arthritis. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.005, ***P < 0.001, versus before anti-TNF-α treatment in each group
#P < 0.01, versus moderate-good responders.
Anti-CCP, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies; IL, interleukin; RF, rheumatoid factor; Rx, treatment; Th17, type 17 helper T cell; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α.