Imbalance of helper T cell type 1, helper T cell type 2 and associated cytokines in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A meta-analysis.

Th1 and Th2 cells and their associated cytokines function in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but their exact roles are uncertain. We performed a meta-analysis to examine the relationship of these cells and cytokines with SLE. Multiple databases were searched to identify publications that reported the percentages of Th1 and Th2 cells and their associated cytokines in SLE patients and healthy controls (HCs).