title: Expression of ST2 in helper T lymphocytes of malignant pleural effusions.
abstract: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that accumulated helper T lymphocytes in malignant pleural effusions may shift to T-helper type 2 (Th2) and produce soluble ST2 protein. We took samples of serum and pleural effusions (p-) from patients with carcinomatous pleurisy (CA, n = 17), tuberculous pleurisy (TB, n = 8), and congestive heart failure (HF, n = 5) and compared the concentration of cytokines or ST2. Ex vivo production of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10, though not that of interferon (IFN)-gamma or IL-12, from CD4+ T cells isolated from pleural effusions was higher in the CA group than in the TB or HF group. The p-ST2 concentrations were significantly higher in the CA group than in the TB or HF group, positively correlated with the percentage of pleural effusion CD4+ T cells (r = 0.432, p = 0.016) and inversely correlated with p-IFN-gamma concentrations (r = -0.423, p = 0.019). Furthermore, mRNA expression of ST2 in CD4+ T cells isolated from group CA was upregulated, compared with that in those isolated from the TB group. These results suggest that CD4+ T cells in CA shift to Th2, which can produce soluble ST2 protein, resulting in increased concentrations of p-ST2 in malignant pleural effusion.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical School, Minamikawachi, Tochigi, Japan. oshikatu@jichi.ac.jp
authors.forename: Katsuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oshikawa
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yanagisawa
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: Shin-Ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tominaga
authors.forename: Yukihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D000072179:Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000166:cytology / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000378:metabolism*; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C079241:IL1RL1 protein, human; D000072179:Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface