Upregulation of interleukin 21 and promotion of interleukin 17 production in chronic or recurrent Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the expression and potential role of interleukin (IL) 21 in the pathogenesis of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease.


METHODS
Blood samples were obtained from patients with VKH disease and from healthy control subjects. Serum IL-21 level and IL-21 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Interleukin 17 and interferon γ levels in the supernatants of PBMCs and CD4(+) T cells cultured with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies in the presence or absence of recombinant IL-21 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
The results showed a significantly increased serum IL-21 level, as well as higher IL-21 mRNA expression by PBMCs, in patients having chronic or recurrent active VKH disease compared with patients having inactive VKH disease and with controls. In vitro experiments showed that recombinant IL-21 significantly increased IL-17 production by PBMCs and by CD4(+) T cells from patients and from controls. However, recombinant IL-21 did not affect interferon γ expression by PBMCs or by CD4(+) T cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Interleukin 21 may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic or recurrent VKH disease, possibly by promoting IL-17 secretion.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings from the present study suggest that IL-21 may be a potential target in the development of therapy for VKH disease.
Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Fuzhen
F
Li
Peizeng
P
Yang
Xiaoli
X
Liu
Chaokui
C
Wang
Shengping
S
Hou
Aize
A
Kijlstra
D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012008:Recurrence; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014607:Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000098546:Interleukin-21
D020381:Interleukin-17; D007378:Interleukins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000098546:Interleukin-21