Lymphocyte Fractions as Indicators of T-Helper 1/T-Helper 2 Cytokine Profiles in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Aims

Inflammatory bowel disease is characterized by various cytokine patterns. In this study, we aimed to investigate the markers that can distinguish Th1/Th2 cytokines in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Methods and Results

In patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated at our hospital, the Th1/Th2 ratio (interferon-γ/interleukin-4 ratio), serum immunoglobulin E level, leucine-rich alpha 2 glycoprotein level, serum amyloid A level, and leukocyte fraction were measured simultaneously, and the relationship between them was examined. We enrolled 108 patients with Crohn's disease and 153 patients with ulcerative colitis. No significant difference was observed in the Th1/Th2 ratio between the ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease groups. In the inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn's disease groups, the lymphocyte fraction was significantly correlated with the Th1/Th2 ratio (r = 0.154, p = 0.013 and r = 0.204, p = 0.0346, respectively). In ulcerative colitis, lymphocyte fraction and Th1/Th2 ratio were significantly correlated in the group without steroid treatment; however, no significant correlation was observed in the steroid-treated group. Serum immunoglobulin E, leucine-rich alpha 2 glycoproteins, and serum amyloid A levels did not significantly correlate with the Th1/Th2 ratio.

Conclusions

The lymphocyte fraction may serve as a marker of Th1/Th2 cytokines and could be particularly useful in non-steroid-treated patients.