title: Interleukin-31 promotes helper T cell type-2 inflammation in children with allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interleukin-31 (IL-31) is a recently described cytokine that is involved in helper T cell type-2 (Th2)-mediated diseases. However, its regulatory effect in the pathogenesis of children allergic rhinitis (AR) needs to be further characterized. This study sought to evaluate the expression and role of IL-31 in children with AR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty children with AR and 20 normal controls were included. IL-31 and Th2 cytokines production in tissue, serum, and nasal lavage was examined by immunohistochemistry, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were purified for in vitro regulation experiment of IL-31. Nasal epithelial cells (NECs) were cultured and stimulated by recombinant IL-31.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IL-31 mRNA and protein levels in both serum and nasal lavage were significantly enhanced in AR compared with normal controls, especially in children with asthma. The nasal IL-31 was associated with enhanced local Th2 cytokines and mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) expression. In vitro study showed that IL-31 promotes Th2 cytokines expression and MUC5AC upregulation and thus amplified Th2 inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that IL-31 expression in AR aggravated and amplified Th2 inflammation as well as mucin production, and provide a possible explanation for IL-31's regulatory role in the pathogenesis of AR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wenlong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Renzhong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yanqiu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Changzhi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Lifeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D049449:Luminescence; D008297:Male; D055271:Mucin 5AC / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000378:metabolism*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C502187:IL31 protein, human; D007378:Interleukins; D055271:Mucin 5AC