Comprehensive Evaluation of Different T-Helper Cell Subsets Differentiation and Function in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Table 2

Th cell-related cytokine changes of RA patients compared with healthy control.

Cytokine	RA (𝑛=76)	Control (𝑛=18)	𝑍	𝑃
TGF-β	159.9 ± 13.2	156.0 ± 6.4	1.8	0.078
IL-17A	48.7 ± 20.2^*	32.5 ± 7.1	4.2	<0.001
IFN-γ	5.4 ± 3.2^*	3.6 ± 0.7	3.4	0.001
TNF-α	4.9 ± 4.3^*	3.5 ± 0.8	3.7	<0.001
IL-10	7.1 ± 3.4^*	5.1 ± 2.3	4.0	<0.001
IL-6	15.8 ± 42.1^*	6.8 ± 3.2	4.3	<0.001
IL-4	14.6 ± 5.0^*	10.9 ± 2.0	4.3	<0.001
IL-2	14.4 ± 4.6^*	11.1 ± 1.4	4.7	<0.001

Values are expressed as median ± interquartile range; the differences between RA and control groups were assessed by Wilcoxon test; ^*P values less than 0.001 were considered significant.