Prednisone may rebuild the immunologic homeostasis: Alteration of Th17 and Treg cells in the lymphocytes from rats' spleens after treated with prednisone-containing serum.

Background: This study aimed to investigate alterations of T helper 17 (Th17), regulatory T (Treg) cells and relative cytokines after treating with prednisone-contained serum. Lymphocytes were isolated from female rats' spleens.

Methods: The splenic lymphocytes were divided into four groups: which were treated with normal rats' serum (control); prednisone-containing rats' serum (PDN); normal rats' serum and cytokines (CTK); cytokines and prednisone-containing rats' serum (PDN + CTK). The mRNA expression level of RORC, Foxp3 and interleukin-17 (IL-17) was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The quantities of Th17 and Treg cells were tested by flow cytometry, and the concentrations of IL-17 and IL-10 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: Higher mRNA expression level of Foxp3, percentages of Treg/CD4 , and concentrations of IL-10, lower mRNA expressions of RORC and IL-17, concentrations of IL-17 and percentages of Th17/CD4 in PDN group were detected, compared with control group (all p < 0.01). Similar trend was detected in PDN + CTK group, compared with CTK group (all p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Our results suggest that prednisone may rebuild the immunologic homeostasis and may be used in human diseases with changes in the imbalance immune system such as unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA), hepatitis B infection, or other autoimmune diseases.