Objective To investigate the expression of T-helper (Th)1,Th17 and Th22 cells in peripheral blood and cytokines in serum of patients with lupus nephritis (LN) and its clinical significance.Methods The proportion of Th1,Th17 and Th22 cells in peripheral blood of 20 LN patients and 20 healthy controls were evaluated by flow cytometry; the concentration of cytokines including interferon (IFN)-γ,interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-22 were measured by ELISA.The correlation between proportion of Th 17 and Th22 cells and IL-17,IL-22,systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) were analyzed.Results The proportion of Th17 cells increased (P ＜ 0.05),the proportion of Th22 cells decreased (P ＜ 0.05),the proportion of Th 1 cells did not change too much (P ＞ 0.05) in LN patients compared with healthy controls; the concentration of serum IL-17 increased (P ＜ 0.05),the concentration of serum IL-22 decreased (P ＜ 0.05),the concentration of serum IFN-γ did not change too much (P ＞ 0.05) in LN patients compared with healthy controls.The proportion of Thl7 cells correlated positively with concentration of serum IL-17 and SLEDAI in LN patients (r =0.721,P ＜ 0.05; r =0.225,P ＜ 0.05).There was a positive correlation between the proportion of Th22 cells and concentration of serum IL-22 (r =0.489,P ＜ 0.05),no statistical correlation between the proportion of Th22 cells and SLEDAI (r =0.241,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The abnormal expression of Th 17 and Th22 may play an important role in LN disease pathogenicity.