Analysis of IL-12 receptor beta 2 chain expression of circulating T lymphocytes in patients with atopic asthma.
Th2 cell predominance relative to Th1 cells contributes to pathological immune responses in patients with atopic asthma. IL-12 is a key cytokine in the induction of Th1 cells, and downregulation of IL-12 production is reported in these patients. However, IL-12 receptor expression of their T lymphocytes has not been clarified. In this study, expression of IL-12 receptor beta 2 on T cells and secretion of cytokines which affect IL-12 receptor beta 2 expression by their PBMC were examined. We found that IL-12 receptor beta 2 expression of the T cells is reduced. This is partly due to the diminished production of IL-12 and enhanced secretion of IL-4 by their PBMC. IL-18 production is not significantly modulated in these patients. Furthermore, intrinsic defects of the CD4(+) T cells, which reduce their IL-12 receptor beta 2 expression in response to IL-12 and/or IL-18 stimulation, are evident and are importantly involved in the Th1/Th2 imbalance of patients with atopic asthma.
Department of Immunology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan.
T
T
Yokoe
N
N
Suzuki
K
K
Minoguchi
M
M
Adachi
T
T
Sakane
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004391:Dust; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D053707:Receptors, Interleukin-12; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000906:Antibodies; D004391:Dust; D020382:Interleukin-18; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D053707:Receptors, Interleukin-12; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4