Th22亚群是一种特定类型的CD4+ T辅助细胞亚群。本研究旨在探索乳腺癌（BC）不同病理特征中循环Th22、Th17、Th1和Th2细胞的表达水平及其可能的机制。本研究纳入了43名新诊断的BC患者和30名健康对照者。通过流式细胞术检测外周血中的Th22、Th17、Th1和Th2细胞频率。采用酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）检测血浆中IL-22细胞因子的浓度。采用实时荧光定量PCR检测芳烃受体（AHR）和RAR相关孤儿受体C（RORC）基因的表达水平。 BC患者的Th22、Th17、Th2亚群频率和血浆IL-22水平明显较高。在BC患者中检测到Th22频率与血浆IL-22浓度呈正相关。此外，在HER2阳性BC患者的外周血中，Th22和Th2亚群的比例高于HER2阴性BC患者。在BC患者中，Th1亚群与Ki-67％呈负相关，而Th2亚群与Ki-67％呈正相关。BC患者的Th1细胞比例显著低于对照组。BC患者中AHR和RORC转录因子的表达水平也上调。此外，Th22细胞与BC肿瘤分期和临床预后呈正相关。Th22、Th17、Th1和Th2亚群可能在BC患者中起重要作用。Th22、Th17、Th1和Th2细胞可能具有潜在的临床标记物的重要意义，用于BC患者的分子分类。Th22细胞可能在BC患者的预后预测中具有潜在价值，具有临床价值。 © 2023 作者。《胸部肿瘤》由中国肺癌学组和约翰·威利·桑斯澳洲有限公司出版。

Th22 subset is a particular type of CD4+ T helper cells subset. Our study aimed to explore the expression level of circulating Th22, Th17, Th1, and Th2 cells and the possible mechanism of these cells in breast cancer (BC) with different pathological features.Our study enrolled 43 newly diagnosed BC patients and 30 healthy controls. Frequencies of peripheral Th22, Th17, Th1, and Th2 cells were tested by flow cytometry. Concentrations of IL-22 cytokine in plasma were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Real-time PCR was done to test aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and RAR-associated orphan receptor C (RORC) gene expression.Frequencies of Th22, Th17, Th2 subsets, and the plasma IL-22 level was obviously higher in the BC patients. A positive correlation between Th22 frequency and IL-22 concentration in plasma was detected in BC patients. Furthermore, the percentage of Th22, Th2 subsets in peripheral blood of HER2 positive BC was higher than that in HER2 negative BC patients. A negative correlation between Th1 subset and Ki-67% as well as a positive correlation between Th2 subset and Ki-67% was found in BC patients. The proportion of Th1 cells in BC patients was significantly lower than that of the control group. Expression of AHR and RORC transcription factors were also observed to be upregulated in the BC patients. Furthermore, Th22 cells were positively correlated with BC tumor stage and clinical outcomes. The BC patients with a higher percentage of Th22, Th17, Th1 cells or a lower percentage of Th1 cells showed a decreased trend of survival rate.Th22, Th17, Th1, and Th2 subsets may play an essential role in BC patients. Th22, Th17, Th1, and Th2 cells may have potential significance to be used as clinical markers in BC patients with different molecular classification. Th22 cells may have potential value in BC patients' outcomes prediction, providing clinical value.© 2023 The Authors. Thoracic Cancer published by China Lung Oncology Group and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.