Increased interleukin-4 production by NK T cells in systemic lupus erythematosus.
It has been reported that production of interleukin (IL)-4, a T helper (Th)-2-type cytokine, might play an important role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). On the other hand, it is known that NK1.1(+) cells which belong to CD4, CD8 double-negative, or CD4(+) cells are associated with initial IL-4 production and Th2 differentiation in mice although human equivalent cells are unknown. In order to study the profile of IL-4-producing cells in SLE, cytoplasmic IL-4 and various surface antigens on peripheral mononuclear cells were analyzed. Peripheral mononuclear cells were stimulated for 5 h by phorbol ester and ionomycin in the presence of monensin, fixed, and permeabilized with paraformaldehyde and saponin solution. Then cytoplasmic IL-4 and various surface antigens were analyzed by flow cytometry. IL-4-producing cells in SLE were phenotypically the same as those which produce IL-4 normally and frequently bore activated T-cell (CD7, CD25, CD28, CD29) and NK-cell markers (CD56, CD57). Double-negative T cells and CD57(+) T cells were increased in number and were more frequently positive for cytoplasmic IL-4 in SLE compared with normal controls and various infectious diseases. It was suggested that T cells with NK cell markers, CD57(+) T cells, which are known to extrathymically differentiate, might be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE as a counterpart of mouse NK1.1(+) cells.
Funauchi
M
M
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka, 589-8511, Japan.
Yu
H
H
Sugiyama
M
M
Ikoma
S
S
Ohno
M
M
Kinoshita
K
K
Hamada
K
K
Kanamaru
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D018959:CD57 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D015847:Interleukin-4