The serum levels of the cytokines involved in the Th17 and Th1 cell commitment are increased in individuals with borderline thrombocytopenia

The definition of immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) as a peripheral blood platelet count less than 100 × 10⁹/L instead of the historical criteria of 150 × 10⁹/L renders subjects with platelets between 100 and 150 × 10⁹/L without a diagnosis. Here, we demonstrated that these subjects have enhanced levels of proinflammatory cytokines linked to Th1 and Th17 cell response, and are more frequently carriers of polymorphisms in genes that code cytokines involved in the commitment of Th1 and Th17 immune response, when compared with controls, similarly to that observed in patients with ITP.