Altered numbers of Th22/Th17 cells and related cytokines in KD patients after treatment
Finally, we tested how the treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) affected the numbers of Th22/Th17 cells and the concentrations of serum IL-22, IL-17A and TNF-α in the patients (Fig. 5) We found that the numbers of Th22 and Th17 cells were significantly lower than that before the treatment [Th22 CAL+ (1.61 ± 0.29) ×104 versus (0.84 ± 0.21)×104, P<0.05, Th17 CAL+ (2.80 ± 0.78)×104 versus (1.64 ± 0.45)×104, P<0.05, Th22 CAL- (1.09 ± 0.27)×104 versus (0.79 ± 0.17)×104, P<0.05, Th17 CAL- (2.07 ± 0.66)×104 versus (1.48 ± 0.34)×104, P<0.05]. Similarly, the concentrations of serum IL-22 and IL-17A in those patients with CAL and NCAL after the treatment were also significantly lower than that before the treatment [IL-22 CAL+ (18.59 ± 4.15) versus (8.78 ± 1.71), P<0.05, IL-17 CAL+ (78.51 ± 21.37) versus (40.35 ± 11.05), P<0.05, IL-22 CAL- (13.65 ± 5.77) versus (8.50 ± 1.69), P<0.05, IL-17 CAL- (53.16 ± 16.35) versus (38.56 ± 9.80), P<0.05]. Morever, the concentrations of serum TNF-α in those patients with CAL and NCAL after the treatment were lower than that before the treatment [CAL+ (14.36 ± 3.85) versus (5.41 ± 2.04), P<0.05, CAL- (7.78 ± 3.21) versus (4.94 ± 1.841), P<0.05].