title: [Serum levels of IL-21 and TGF-beta in the Yusho patients].
abstract: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), recognized as a dioxin receptor, is expressed on the surface of helper T (Th) 17 cells. As PCBs and PCDFs are still detected in the sera of the Yusho patients, we hypothesized dysregulation of Th17 cells in the Yusho patients. In the present study, we measured IL-21 and TGF-beta in the Yusho patients which induce differentiation from Th0 to Th17 cells. Serum levels of IL-21 were lower than those of controls (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, serum levels of TGF-beta were decreased relative to controls, but not significant. These results may imply differentiation from Th0 cells to Th17 cells is not induced in the Yusho patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan. y-kuwa83@nagasaki-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuwatsuka
authors.forename: Yuta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koike
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Utani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D011164:Porphyrias / Q000097:blood*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000098546:Interleukin-21