title: Increased expression of IL-22 is associated with disease activity in Behcet's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interleukin (IL)-22 has been reported to be involved in the development of autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to analyze the expression and potential role of IL-22 in the pathogenesis of Behcet's disease (BD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The levels of IL-22 in patient sera or supernatants of cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and CD4(+)T cells were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the frequency of IL-22-producing CD4(+) T cells. IL-22 mRNA from erythema nodosum skin lesions was examined using real time quantitative RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BD patients with active uveitis showed a significantly higher expression of IL-22 in the supernatants of stimulated PBMCs and CD4(+)T cells compared with BD patients without active uveitis and normal controls. An increased frequency of IL-22-producing CD4(+)T cells was also found in BD patients with active uveitis. IL-22 mRNA expression was elevated in erythema nodosum skin lesions. In BD patients, a high IL-22 level in the supernatant of stimulated PBMCs correlated with the presence of retinal vasculitis and erythema nodosum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-22 was associated with disease activity in BD and correlated with the presence of small vessel inflammation, suggesting that it may be involved in its pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qingyun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Chaokui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shengping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Aize
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kijlstra
authors.forename: Peizeng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D004893:Erythema Nodosum / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014605:Uveitis / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult; D000097043:Interleukin-22
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D000097043:Interleukin-22