Role of Th2 cells in IgG4-related lacrimal gland enlargement.
BACKGROUND
Lacrimal gland enlargement (LGE) is one of the characteristics of Mikulicz's disease (MD). Recently, marked serum IgG4 elevation and infiltration of IgG4-positive plasmacytes in the enlarged exocrine glands have been reported in MD patients. However, little is known about the role of CD4+ T cells and their cytokines in IgG4-related diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of CD4+ T cells in patients with IgG4-related diseases.


METHODS
We investigated the clinical characteristics of 9 patients with LGE and elevated serum IgG4 levels (named IgG4-related LGE). We also examined mRNA expression of cytokines and transcription factors of peripheral blood CD4+ T cells in patients with IgG4-related LGE.


RESULTS
All patients with IgG4-related LGE showed elevated serum IgE levels. In addition, 5 of 9 patients with IgG4-related LGE exhibited eosinophilia and asthma-like symptoms. In patients with IgG4-related LGE, mRNA expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and GATA-3 but not IFN-gamma or T-bet was enhanced on CD4+ T cells compared with that in healthy controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Th2 cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of IgG4-related diseases.
Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
Hiroko
H
Kanari
Shin-ichiro
S
Kagami
Daisuke
D
Kashiwakuma
Yoshihiro
Y
Oya
Shunsuke
S
Furuta
Kei
K
Ikeda
Akira
A
Suto
Kotaro
K
Suzuki
Koichi
K
Hirose
Norihiko
N
Watanabe
Yoshitaka
Y
Okamoto
Shuichi
S
Yamamoto
Itsuo
I
Iwamoto
Hiroshi
H
Nakajima
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000235:genetics; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000473:pathology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000187:drug effects; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000098546:Interleukin-21
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000485:Allergens; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494749:GATA3 protein, human; C508609:IL10 protein, human; C508598:IL4 protein, human; C508599:IL5 protein, human; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018793:Interleukin-13; D015848:Interleukin-5; D007378:Interleukins; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D000098546:Interleukin-21