Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor decreases the Th1/Th2 ratio in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura in vitro.
Chronic immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease that exhibits an abnormally high Th1/Th2 ratio. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been shown to decrease the Th1/Th2 ratio in healthy donors. In this study, we investigated the effects of G-CSF treatment on the Th1/Th2 cells and the underlying mechanisms in patients with ITP in vitro. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from patients with ITP and healthy controls were treated with G-CSF. Expression levels of interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, and IL-13 in supernatants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The expression of IFN-γ, IL-4, and G-CSF receptor (G-CSFR) on Th1 and Th2 cells were examined by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. The mRNA expression of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-13, and T-box expressed in T cells (T-bet) and GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA-3) in PBMCs was evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that G-CSF could significantly reduce the Th1/Th2 ratio in PBMCs from patients with ITP in vitro. As the concentration of G-CSF increased, Th1/Th2 ([IFN-γ+IL-2]/[IL-4+IL-13]) cytokine ratios and T-bet/GATA-3 mRNA ratios decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. Th1 cells and Th2 cells both expressed G-CSFR. These results suggest that G-CSF could decrease the Th1/Th2 ratio in the context of ITP, and elucidate the direct and indirect immunomodulatory mechanisms underlying G-CSF functions in Th1/Th2 cells, thus supporting the therapeutic potential of G-CSF in the treatment of patients with ITP.
Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Fei
F
Ge
Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; Central Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Zhuo
Z
Zhang
Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Jinxiao
J
Hou
Central Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Fenglin
F
Cao
Central Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Yingmei
Y
Zhang
Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; Department of Neonatology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Ping
P
Wang
Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Hong
H
Wei
Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; Central Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China. Electronic address: jinzhou1111@126.com.
Jin
J
Zhou
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
Chronic immune thrombocytopenia purpura; GATA-binding protein 3; Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor; T-box expressed in T cells; Th1/Th2