title: Elevated interferon regulatory factor 4 levels in patients with allergic asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Allergic asthma is a common inflammatory disease regulated by the T helper (Th) cells. Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) plays an important role in the differentiation of Th cells. This study investigated whether IRF4 is involved in the systemic immune responses in allergic asthma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from allergic asthmatics (n = 29) and healthy controls (n = 12). The mRNA and protein levels of IRF4 in PBMCs were measured by quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting. The frequencies of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The related cytokine (interferon-γ, interleukin-4 (IL-4), and IL-17) concentrations in plasma and culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. The levels of GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3), retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt), and forkhead box P3 (FOXP3), the master transcription factors controlling Th2, Th17, and T regulatory cells differentiation, respectively, were examined by quantitative RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of IRF4 were elevated in allergic asthmatics compared with those in healthy controls. The frequencies of Th2 and Th17 cells as well as the concentrations of Th2- and Th17-related cytokines were higher in plasma from asthma patients than those from healthy controls; similar results were observed in culture supernatants. IRF4 mRNA levels were positively correlated with GATA3, RORγt, and FOXP3 mRNA levels in allergic asthmatics but not in healthy controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggested that IRF4 may play a role in the systemic inflammation of allergic asthma patients by facilitating the differentiation of Th2 and Th17 cells at least at the transcriptional level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ya-Dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jiong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000099218:Interferon Regulatory Factor-4
chemical_list: D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D020381:Interleukin-17; D015847:Interleukin-4; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000099218:Interferon Regulatory Factor-4; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; C508598:IL4 protein, human; C539900:RORC protein, human