BackgroundPrimary Sjogren’s Syndrome (pSS) is a lymphoproliferative disease with autoimmune characteristics, which is characterized by lymphocyte infiltration of exocrine glands and involvement and dysfunction of extraglandular organs. Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is a common renal involvement in pSS. This study investigated the phenotypic characteristics of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and cytokines in pSS patients complicated with RTA (pSS-RTA).MethodThis retrospective study included 25 pSS patients complicated with RTA and 54 pSS patients without RTA (pSS-no-RTA). To examine the level of peripheral lymphocytes subsets, flow cytometry analysis was used. The level of serum cytokines were detected by flow cytometry bead array(CBA). The influencing factors related to the occurrence of pSS-RTA were identified through logistic regression analyze.ResultsThe absolute number of CD4 + T cells and Th2 cells in peripheral blood were decreased in pSS-RTA patients than pSS-no-RTA patients. Moreover, the absolute number of NK cells and Treg cells were also decreased in pSS-RTA patients than pSS-no-RTA. The level of serum IL-2 was higher in pSS-RTA patients than pSS-no-RTA patients, and is negatively correlated with the number of NK cells, the number and percentage of Th17 cells, and Th17/Treg. Serum IL-2 level is also correlated with various cytokines. Multivariate logistic analysis proved that elevated ESR and ALP were risk factors for pSS complicated with RTA, while Treg was a protective factor.ConclusionThe increase of serum IL-2 level and the decrease of peripheral blood NK cells and Treg cells may be the immune mechanism of the development of pSS-RTA disease.