Objective To investigate the role of Th9 cells in primary biliary cirrhosis and its clinical significance.Methods The percentages of Th9 cells in patients with PBC (n=38)and healthy controls (n=38)were measured by flow cytometry. Patients clinical data were collected and Mayo risk scores were calculated.Determined the levels of IL-9,PU-1 and TGF-βmRNA expressions and the protein levels of IL-9 in plasma.Further analyzed the correlation between Th9 cells and clinical parameters.Results Compared to healthy controls,Th9 cells percentage was higher in PBC patients and increased with dis-ease stages (t=27.29;P<0.01).IL-9,PU-1 and TGF-βmRNA expressions were increased compared with healthy controls (t=14.69,23.92,10.48;all P<0.01)and the protein level of IL-9 was also up-regulated (t=11.66;P<0.01).The clinical parameters (ALP,AST,ALT,GGT and TBIL)were higher than healthy controls (t=10.94,12.95,10.56,14.92,27.70;all P<0.01).Moreover,the percentage of Th9 cells were positively correlated to Mayo risk,ALT,AST,GGT and TBIL (P<0.05).Conclusion Th9 cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of PBC and related to the disease stage,which provides new clues for future immunotherapy.%目的探讨原发性胆汁性肝硬化（primary biliary cirrhosis，PBC）患者外周血Th9细胞所占百分比并初步探讨其临床意义。方法应用流式细胞术检测PBC患者（n＝38）和健康对照者（n＝38）外周血Th9细胞所占百分比，利用临床资料对患者进行 Mayo评分。采用实时荧光定量PCR法检测患者组和健康对照组外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）中 IL-9，PU-1， TGF-β的表达量。并采用 ELISA方法检测患者血清中 IL-9的表达量。进一步分析 Th9细胞百分比与 PBC患者生化指标和Mayo评分的相关性。结果与健康对照组相比，PBC患者Th9细胞百分比增高（t＝27.29；P＜0.01），且随疾病分期加重逐渐增高。IL-9，PU-1和TGF-βmRNA的表达量显著增高（t＝14.69，23.92，10.48；均P＜0.01），且血清中 IL-9的表达量也显著增高（t＝11.66；P＜0.01）。生化指标（ALP，AST，ALT，GGT，TBIL）较健康对照组均显著增高（t＝10.94，12.95，10.56，14.92，27.70；均P＜0.01）。Th9细胞百分比与患者 Mayo评分、AST，ALT，GGT和TBIL间呈正相关（P＜0.05）。结论 Th9细胞可能参与了PBC发病机制，且与疾病的发展相关，这为未来免疫调节治疗靶点的探索提供了新的依据。
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