title: Recruitment and phenotypic characteristics of interleukin 9-producing CD4+ T cells in malignant pleural effusion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our previous data have demonstrated that the number of IL-9-producing CD4(+) T cells (Th9 cells) in malignant pleural effusion (MPE) was significantly increased when compared with that in blood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism by which Th9 cells were recruited into MPE and the phenotypic characteristics of pleural Th9 cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression patterns of chemokine receptors (CCRs) on Th9 cells and the chemoattractant activity of chemokine CCL20 for Th9 cells in vitro were observed. The phenotypic features of Th9 cells in MPE were determined by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that Th9 cells in both MPE and blood expressed a high level of CCR6 on their surface. An in vitro migration assay confirmed that both MPE and supernatants of cultured pleural mesothelial cells could induce the migration of Th9 cells, and anti-CCL20 mAb significantly inhibited the ability of MPE or supernatants to stimulate Th9 cell chemotaxis. We also noted that pleural Th9 cells expressed high levels of CD45RO and very low levels of CD45RA and CD62L, displaying the phenotype of effector memory cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data revealed that recruitment of Th9 cells into MPE could be induced by pleural CCL20 and that the majority of Th9 cells in MPE displayed the phenotype of effector memory cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gongren Tiyuchang Nanlu, Chaoyang, 100020, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ning
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Bu
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jian-Chu
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhi-Jian
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Zhao-Hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Huan-Zhong
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054418:Chemokine CCL20 / Q000378:metabolism; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods; D016906:Interleukin-9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000276:immunology*; D054399:Receptors, CCR6 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C108355:CCL20 protein, human; C106311:CCR6 protein, human; D054418:Chemokine CCL20; C508607:IL9 protein, human; D016906:Interleukin-9; D054399:Receptors, CCR6; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens