title: Magnesium affects the cytokine secretion of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes in acute asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Magnesium (Mg) administration has been shown to promote bronchodilation and to improve lung function in asthma. It also plays an additional role in modulating the immune responses. This study was initiated to explore if Mg supplementation could affect the secretion of cytokines in acute asthmatic CD4⁺ T cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total serum Mg concentrations of the acute asthmatic patients and healthy controls were determined. CD4⁺ T cells were isolated from the blood of the acute asthmatic patients. They were cultured in various concentrations of Mg-supplemented (0.8, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mmol/l) medium. Cytokine (IL-5, IL-13, and IFN-γ) levels were determined by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbnent Assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum Mg concentration was lower in the acute asthmatic patients than that in the healthy controls (p < .05). The secretion of IL-5 and IL-13 was decreased, while the acute asthmatic CD4⁺ T cells were cultured in 10 and 15 mmol/l Mg-supplemented medium, respectively, as compared to the 0.8 mmol/l Mg group (p < .05). The secretion of IFN-γ increased in the 10 mmol/l Mg group (p < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mg supplementation was able to modulate the immune responses of acute asthmatic CD4⁺ T cells and decrease the secretion of type 2 CD4⁺ T lymphocytes cytokines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Rui-Yun
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shan-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018793:Interleukin-13; D015848:Interleukin-5; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D008274:Magnesium