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. 2022 Apr 1:10:777992.
doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.777992. eCollection 2022.

Expression of Helper and Regulatory T Cells in Atopic Dermatitis: A Meta-Analysis

Dao-Jun Zhang  1 , Fei Hao  1 , Tian Qian  1 , Hai-Xing Cheng  1
Affiliations

Expression of Helper and Regulatory T Cells in Atopic Dermatitis: A Meta-Analysis

Dao-Jun Zhang et al. Front Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease, with the incidence peaks in infancy. A meta-analysis was performed to assess the levels of T helper type 22 (Th22) cells, T helper type 17 (Th17) cells, interleukin (IL)-17, and Tregs in peripheral blood of patients with AD.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Internet, and Wan-fang Data from the day of inception of this study to July 2021. Two authors independently extracted the data, which were pooled and calculated using Stata software version 15.

Results: A total of eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Compared with control group, patients with AD had an increased proportion of Th22 cells [weighted mean difference (WMD) = 2.07, 95% CI (1.33, 2.81), p < 0.001], Th17 cells [WMD = 1.04, 95% CI [0.66, 1.43], p < 0.001], IL-17 [WMD = 17.56, 95% CI (11.1, 24.03), p < 0.001], and a decreased proportion of Tregs [WMD = -2.49, 95% CI (-2.93, -2.05), p < 0.001] in peripheral blood. The subgroup analysis showed that patients with higher disease severity had higher levels of Th22 [mild: WMD = 1.33, 95% CI (1.24, 1.41), p < 0.001; moderate: WMD = 1.41, 95% CI (1.36, 1.54), p < 0.001; severe: WMD = 3.46, 95% CI (3.34, 2.81), p < 0.001] and lower levels of Tregs [mild: WMD = -1.43, 95% CI (-1.75, -1.11), p < 0.001; moderate: WMD = -2.16, 95% CI (-2.46, -1.86), p < 0.001; severe: WMD = -2.96, 95% CI (-3.25, -2.67), p < 0.001] in peripheral blood compared to healthy controls.

Conclusion: The random effect model of the meta-analysis showed patients with AD had an increased proportion of Th22 cells, Th17 cells, and IL-17, whereas a decreased proportion of Tregs was found in peripheral blood. The results demonstrated that Th22 cells, Th17 cells, IL-17, and Tregs may be involved in the pathogenic mechanisms of AD.

Keywords: IL-17; Th17 cells; Th22 cells; atopic dermatitis; tregs.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flowchart of the study selection process.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Forest plot of the levels of T helper type 22 (Th22) cells.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Forest plot of the levels of T helper type 17 (Th17) cells.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Sensitivity analysis of the levels of Th17.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Forest plot of the levels of interleukin (IL)-17.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Forest plot of the levels of Treg.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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