Th17/Treg ratio in human graft-versus-host disease

Abstract

Th17 cells have never been explored in human graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). We studied the correlation between the presence of Th17 cells with histologic and clinical parameters.We first analyzed a cohort of 40 patients with GVHD of the gastrointestinal tract. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), TNF receptors, and Fas expression, and apoptotic cells, CD4+IL-17 + cells (Th17), and CD4+Foxp3+ cells (Treg) were quantified. A Th17/Treg ratio less than 1 correlated both with the clinical diagnosis (P < .001) and more than 2 pathologic grades (P