title: Interleukin-31 expression and relation to disease severity in human asthma.
abstract: Interleukin 31 (IL-31) is a novel T helper type 2 effector cytokine that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. However, its role in human asthma remains unclear. The aim of this study was to measure IL-31 levels in the serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and bronchial tissue of asthmatics and healthy subjects, and identify its possible correlation to disease severity. We quantified IL-31 levels in the serum of patients with asthma (n = 44), as well as in controls (n = 22). Of these subjects, 9 asthmatics and five controls underwent bronchoscopy with endobronchial biopsy and BALF collection. Our data showed that serum and BALF IL-31 levels were significantly elevated in patients with asthma compared with controls. Expressions of IL-31 and IL-31 receptor (IL-31RA and OSMR) were more prominent in the bronchial tissue in severe compared to mild asthma and controls. Serum IL-31 levels correlated positively with Th2 related cytokines (IL-5, IL-13, and TSLP), asthma severity or total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), and inversely with asthma control and the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1). The current data may provide insight into the underlying pathogenesis of asthma, in which IL-31 has an important pathogenic role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China.
authors.forename: Tianwen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China.
authors.forename: Zhennan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of pathology, Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China.
authors.forename: Zhiliang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China.
authors.forename: Yingying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China.
authors.forename: Quanchao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China.
authors.forename: Dongming
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000473:pathology*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001980:Bronchi / Q000737:chemistry; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: C502187:IL31 protein, human; D007378:Interleukins