AIM: To assess helper T(Th) lymphocyte subset balance in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada(VKH) disease. METHODS: Sixty-eight active VKH patients and seventytwo inactive VKH patients were included in this study. One hundred healthy individuals served as controls. Peripheral blood was obtained from VKH patients and healthy controls. Th lymphocyte subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry. Plasma concentration of interleukin(IL)-17, IL-10, transforming growth factor(TGF)-β, IL-23 and IL-6 was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). RESULTS: VKH patients with active uveitis had significantly higher percentages of both Th1 and Th17 cells and lower percentages of regulatory T(Treg) cells as compared with inactive VKH patients and healthy controls. Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg ratios were also significantly elevated in active VKH patients. The percentages of Th1, Th17 and Treg cells and the Th1/Th2, Th17/Treg ratio did not differ between inactive VKH patients and healthy controls. There was no difference concerning the percentage of Th2 cells among all the groups. VKH patients with active uveitis showed an elevated level of peripheral Th17 related cytokines levels(TGF-β, IL-6, IL-23, and IL-17) and a decreased level of Treg related cytokines(IL-10) compared with inactive VKH patients and healthy controls. Inactive VKH patients showed no differences in peripheral Th17 related cytokines(TGF-β, IL-6, IL-23, and IL-17) and Treg related cytokines(IL-10) levels compared with healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Th1 and Th17 cells are significantly increased and Treg cells significantly decreased in active VKH compared with inactive VKH or healthy controls. Therefore, Th lymphocyte subset analysis may serve as a disease biomarker for VKH.
