title: Effect of interleukin 21 and its receptor on CD8+T cells in the pathogenesis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
abstract: Interleukin 21 (IL-21) and its receptor, IL-21R, play a key role in innate and adaptive immunity. In the present study, the effect of IL-21 and IL-21R on the pathogenesis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) was investigated. The serum levels of IL-21 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression of IL-21R on CD8+T cells was examined through flow cytometry. The data showed that the serum level of IL-21 was significantly decreased in the patients with DLBCL compared with the healthy controls (P<0.001), whereas the expression of IL-21R was clearly elevated on the CD8+T cells in the patients with DLBCL. Further analyses revealed that the downregulation of the IL-21 serum level was correlated with an increased tumor stage of DLBCL, while the expression of IL-21R on the CD8+T cells was positively correlated with the tumor stage. Also, the serum level of IL-21 and the proportion of IL-21R on the CD8+T cells were negatively correlated in the patients. Notably, it was identified that the proportion of IL-21R on the CD8+T cells, but not the serum level of IL-21, was significantly upregulated in the patients with bone-marrow involvement and B symptoms. These results indicate that IL-21 and IL-21R may be involved in the pathogenesis of DLBCL, in which IL-21R may reflect the progression of the disease more accurately than the serum level of IL-21.
authors: Department of Transfusion, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China.
authors: Zhanshan
authors: Z
authors: Cha
authors: Department of Transfusion, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China.
authors: Haihui
authors: H
authors: Gu
authors: Department of Transfusion, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China.
authors: Huijun
authors: H
authors: Guo
authors: Department of Transfusion, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China.
authors: Xiaohua
authors: X
authors: Tu
authors: Department of Transfusion, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China.
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Zang
authors: Department of Transfusion, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China.
authors: Chunyan
authors: C
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Transfusion, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China.
authors: Meixian
authors: M
authors: Hua
authors: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors: James R
authors: JR
authors: Rechlic
authors: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors: Lindsay M
authors: LM
authors: Olasnova
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Emergency Center, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, P.R. China.
authors: Haihan
authors: H
authors: Song
authors: Department of Transfusion, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China.
authors: Baohua
authors: B
authors: Qian
keywords: cluster of differentiation 8; diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; interleukin-21; interleukin-21 receptor; serum