title: IL-21 is increased in peripheral blood of emphysema mice and promotes Th1/Tc1 cell generation in vitro.
abstract: Interleukin-21 (IL-21) has been reported to be involved in many Th1-associated diseases. However, the alteration and immune regulation of IL-21 in emphysema remains unknown. In this study, we tested the levels of IFN-γ and IL-21 and the frequencies of Th1 and Tc1 in peripheral blood from cigarette smoke (CS)-exposed mice and air-exposed mice and explored the effect of IL-21 on generation of Th1 and Tc1 cells in vitro. It was found that the levels of IFN-γ and IL-21 and the frequencies of Th1, Tc1, CD4(+) IL-21(+), CD4(+) IL-21R(+), and CD8(+) IL-21R(+) T cells were much higher in CS-exposed mice. Moreover, the levels of IL-21 were correlated positively with Th1 cells and with Tc1 cells. Finally, the in vitro experiments showed that IL-21 could promote Th1/Tc1 cell generation in CS-exposed mice. These results indirectly provide evidence that IL-21 produced by CD4(+) T cells could promote Th1/Tc1 response, leading to systemic inflammation in emphysema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, 6 Shuangyong Avenue, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China.
authors.forename: Minchao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiaoning
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Haijuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004646:Emphysema / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D012906:Smoke; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000098546:Interleukin-21