title: Increased IL-7 expression in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  IL-7/IL-7R has been found to be involved in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases. This study was designed to investigate the potential role of IL-7/IL-7R in the pathogenesis of Vogt Koyanagi-Harada (VKH), an organ-specific autoimmune disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  IL-7 was measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum obtained from patients with active or inactive VKH and from healthy individuals. The expression of IL-7R was measured by flow cytometry (FCM). Cell proliferation was determined after exposure of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and CD4(+) T cells to recombinant IL-7. The levels of IL-17 and IFN-γ levels were detected by ELISA after these cells were cocultured with recombinant IL-7. The influence of recombinant IL-7 on the expansion of Th1 and Th17 cells was evaluated by using FCM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IL-7 was significantly increased in the serum of patients with active VKH compared with those with inactive VKH (P < 0.001) and normal controls (P < 0.001). However, there was no difference between VKH patients and normal controls in the expression of IL-7Rα on CD4(+) T cells. Recombinant IL-7 induced significant cell proliferation and secretion of IL-17 and IFN-γ by PBMCs and CD4(+) T cells. It furthermore promoted the expansion of both Th1 and Th17 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that IL-7 is involved in the pathogenesis of VKH disease.
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Fuzhen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Aize
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kijlstra
authors.forename: Peizeng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D014607:Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015851:Interleukin-7; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7; D007371:Interferon-gamma