Increased frequency of Th22 cells and CCL27/CCR10 axis in lgA nephropathy patients with tonsillitis

Objective To analyze the changes of helper T cell 22 (Th22) and related cytokines and chemokines in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and tonsillitis, and explore its relationship with clinical pathological changes. Methods IgAN patients who were diagnosed at the Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from June 2015 to June 2016 were included. They were divided into IgAN and tonsillitis (IgAN+tonsillitis) group, IgAN group, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN) group and control group (HC) group according to renal pathology and whether associated with tonsillitis. Flow cytometry was used to detect the percentage of peripheral blood Th17, Th22 cells, CC-type chemokine receptor (CCR) 4, CCR6 and CCR10 cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of interleukin (IL)-22, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, CCL22, CCL20 and CCL27. Immunohistochemical method (IHC) was used to detect the expression of CCL22, CCL20 and CCL27 in kidney tissue. The differences of clinicopathological indicators, the proportion of Th22 cells and related chemokine in each group were compared and analyzed. Results A total of 44 IgAN patients were included, including 14 patients complicated with tonsillitis. Ten MsPGN patients and 16 healthy people were also included. There was no statistically significant difference in gender, age, blood pressure, kidney function, blood lipid and other biochemical indicators among the groups (all P>0.05). The peripheral blood Th22 cells and CCR10 positive cells in the IgAN group, MsPGN group, and IgAN+tonsillitis group were significantly higher than those of the control group, and serum IL-22, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, CCL20, CCL22 and CCL27 levels were also significantly higher (all P<0.05). All above indexes reached the highest levels in IgAN patients combined with tonsillitis. The changes of CCL20, CCL22 and CCL27 in renal tissues were consistent with those in peripheral blood. The percentage of Th22 cells increased in hematuria-positive and higher MEST scores patients. Conclusions Th22 cells cooperated with CCL27/CCR10 axis are involved in the pathogenesis of IgAN. Tonsillitis exacerbates clinical severity and kidney injury of IgAN. Key words: T-lymphocytes, helper-inducer; Glomerulonephritis, IgA; Tonsillitis; Helper T cells 22; CCL27/CCR10 axis