Elevated levels of CCR6+ T helper 22 cells correlate with skin and renal impairment in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with a variety of pathological features. Our study investigated the potential role of CCR6(+) T cells in organ impairment of SLE patients. We analyzed CCR6(+/-) T cell subset populations and compared the concentrations of IL-22, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-17A cytokines in 67 patients with newly diagnosed SLE and 26 healthy controls. We found that SLE patients had elevated percentages of CCR6(+) T, CCR6(+) Th22, Th17, Th17.1, and CCR6-Th2 cell subsets, along with increased concentrations of IL-22, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-17 cytokines. Higher levels of CCR6(+) T and CCR6(+) Th22 cells, along with plasma IL-22 were observed in SLE patients with sole skin and/or renal impairment. The percentage of Th22 cells also correlated with Revised Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (RCLASI) and IgG levels, and inversely correlated with C3 levels in SLE patients with sole skin impairment. SLE patients with sole renal impairment showed a correlation between the percentage of Th22 cells and ESR levels. Our data indicated that CCR6(+) Th22 cells may contribute to the pathogenesis of new onset SLE patients with skin or renal impairment, and CCR6 may, thus, be a possible therapeutic target for SLE treatment.