title: Evaluation of Th17-related cytokines and IFNγ production from blood mononuclear cells of moderate and severe asthmatic children reveals methylprednisolone does not decrease IL-22 levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to correlate IL-6, IL-17A, IFNγ, and IL-22 production with asthma disease severity and to evaluate if methylprednisolone downregulated cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two children with chronic persistent asthma and 34 non-asthmatic children were selected. Cytokines were quantified by ELISA from serum or PBMCs supernatants, after the PMA and Ionomycin stimulation, with or without methylprednisolone at 100 µM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our data showed undetectable levels of serum cytokines in most patients and controls. In the PBMCs, we have observed a higher production of IL-17A than IL-22 among asthmatics and controls, although it is not statistically significant. IL-6, IFNγ, and IL-17A levels were significantly reduced after methylprednisolone treatment (p = 0.02, 0.03, and 0.03, respectively) in Severe Persistent Asthma (SPA) and in Moderate Persistent Asthma (MPA), (p = 0.007, 0.01, and 0.007, respectively). However, IL-22 levels were unaffected (SPA, p = 0.12 and MPA, p = 0.93).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Methylprednisolone downregulated IL-6, IL17A, and IFNγ, but not IL-22, in stimulated PBMCs from asthmatic children indicating that methylprednisolone has no effect on IL-22 production by PBMCs.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Alergia e Imunologia Clínica, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE) , Recife , Brasil and.
authors.forename: Emanuel Sávio Cavalcanti
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Sarinho
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azoubel-Antunes
authors.forename: Moacyr Jesus Barreto de Melo
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rêgo
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brayner-Cavalcanti
authors.forename: Thiago Ubiratan
authors.initials: TU
authors.lastname: Lins E Lins
authors.forename: Ivan Da Rocha
authors.initials: Ida R
authors.lastname: Pitta
authors.forename: Maíra Galdino Da Rocha
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pitta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult; D000097043:Interleukin-22
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D020381:Interleukin-17; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D008775:Methylprednisolone; D000097043:Interleukin-22
keywords: Immunomodulation; interferon gamma; interleukin; interleukin 17; interleukin 22; treatment