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Interleukin 17 (IL-17) is a Th17 cytokine associated with inflammation, autoimmunity and defense against some bacteria, it has been implicated in many chronic autoimmune diseases including psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and systemic sclerosis. However, whether IL-17 plays a role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the serum IL-17 level in patients with SLE and it's associations with disease manifestations and activity. Fifty-seven patients with SLE and 30 healthy volunteers were recruited. Serum IL-17 levels were examined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistic analyzes were performed by SPSS 10.01. Results show that serum IL-17 levels were significantly elevated in SLE patients as compared with normal controls. Nevertheless, no associations of serum IL-17 level with clinical and laboratory parameters were found; no significant difference regarding serum IL-17 level between SLE patients with nephritis and those without nephritis was found; no significant difference was found between Less active SLE and More active SLE; Correlation analysis between serum IL-17 levels and SLEDAI showed no association. Taken together, our results indicate increased serum IL-17 levels in SLE patients, suggesting that this cytokine may trigger the inflammatory process in SLE. However, no associations of serum IL-17 level with disease manifestations were found. Therefore, further studies are required to confirm this preliminary data.

T helper cell 22 (Th22) is a new subset of T cells clearly separate from Th17 and other known T cell subsets with distinct gene expression and function. With the CCR6 + CCR4 + CCR10 + phenotype and aryl hydrocarbon receptor as the key transcription factor, Th22 subsets produce cytokines such as IL-22, whose function depends on the activation of signal transduction and activators of transcription 3. IL-22 was up-regulated in Rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, Psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis patients whereas it was down-regulated in the serum of patients with sarcoidosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that IL-22 may have promise as a potential therapeutic for chronic inflammatory diseases, and treatment with recombinant cytokine or gene therapy delivery of IL-22 may alleviate tissue destruction during inflammatory responses. In summary, Th22 cell plays an important and complicated role in inflammatory and autoimmune disease.

This study aims to review the cumulative clinical and laboratory data of 1,790 Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Data were compared separately between male and female patients for each disease onset age groups and among three disease onset age groups in male and female patients. The ratio of female to male was 9.2:1, with differences among three age groups. There was no difference in mean age at onset between females and males. But diagnosis delay in male patients is shorter than in females. When compared with females, in adult-onset patients, males presented more frequently with serositis, pleuritis and discoid rash, but less frequently with malar rash, alopecia, oral ulcers, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, anti-nuclear, anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies. In younger-onset group, males have less discoid rash. In older-onset group, males have less anti-SSA antibodies. In male patients, only anti-SSB antibodies were different in three age groups and negatively correlate to age. Among female patients, age had negative correlations with malar rash, discoid rash, photosensitivity, anti-dsDNA, anti-Sm, anti-SSB and anti-rRNP antibodies, but positive correlation with leucopenia. We conclude that women of childbearing age possess a distinct clinical and laboratory profile. In addition, differences in disease manifestations seem to be correlated with female sex hormones rather than age.