title: Activation of peripheral Th17 lymphocytes in patients with asthma.
abstract: A recently identified interleukin (IL)-17-producing T-helper (Th) lymphocyte subset, which comprises Th17 cells producing hallmark cytokines IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-22, is involved in chronic inflammatory diseases. Elevated gene and protein expressions of IL-17 are manifested in allergic asthma. We further characterized the activation of Th17 cells in asthmatic patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were purified from 31 asthmatic patients and 20 sex- and age-matched control subjects. The number of IL-17A secreting cells in peripheral blood was enumerated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay. Cell surface expression of Th17-related chemokine receptor CCR6, and plasma level of IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-22, and ex vivo production of IL-17A and IL-22 were measured by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The number of peripheral Th17 lymphocytes, expression of CCR6 on Th cells, and ex vivo IL-23, anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 induced production of IL-22 by PBMC were significantly elevated in asthmatic patients compared with control subjects (all p < 0.01). This clinical study further confirmed increased number of peripheral Th17 lymphocytes and cell surface expression of CCR6 receptors on Th cells in asthmatic patients. Pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-23 can exacerbate disease severity by activating pathogenic Th17 lymphocytes to release downstream inflammatory cytokine IL-22 in asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: S W M
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lun
authors.forename: F W S
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: P T Y
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: S Q
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: I H S
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: D S C
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: C W K
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054399:Receptors, CCR6 / Q000378:metabolism; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult; D000097043:Interleukin-22
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D017252:CD3 Complex; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23; D007378:Interleukins; D054399:Receptors, CCR6; D000097043:Interleukin-22; C106311:CCR6 protein, human