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Elevated Interleukin-21 Correlated to Th17 and Th1 Cells in Patients with Immune Thrombocytopenia

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Abstract

Background

Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is critical in the development of autoimmune diseases. The role of IL-21 in the pathogenesis of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) remains unknown.

Materials and Methods

We examined the expression of IL-21, IL-17, and interferon (IFN)-γ in ITP patients and controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry. Detection of specific anti-platelet GPIIb/IIIa and/or GPIb/IX autoantibodies was measured by modified monoclonal antibody specific immobilization of platelet antigens.

Results

IL-21 was expressed on both CD3+CD8− T cells and CD3+CD8+ T cells by flow cytometry. Plasma IL-21 level and the percentage of CD3+CD8−IL-21+ T cells and CD3+CD8+IL-21+ T cells were significantly elevated in ITP patients compared to controls. The percentage of CD3+CD8−IL-17+ T (Th17), CD3+CD8−IFN-γ+ T (Th1), and CD3+CD8+IFN-γ+ T (Tc1) cells also significantly increased in ITP patients. Moreover, we found a significant positive correlation between CD3+CD8−IL-21+ T cells and Th17 cells. In addition, a positive correlation between CD3+CD8−IL-21+ T cells and Th1 cells was also found.

Conclusion

Together, our results indicated a possible role of IL-21 in ITP patients correlated to Th17 and Th1 cells, and blockade of IL-21 may be a reasonable therapeutic strategy for ITP especially those with active disease.

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Acknowledgements

This study was partially supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation (30600680, 30471941, 30770922, 30470742, 30570779, 30600259, 30628015, and 30300312), 973 Project (2006CB503800), Key Clinical Research Project of Chinese Ministry of Health (2007–2009), Research Project of National Public Fare (200802031), Cultivation Fund of the Key Scientific and Technical Innovation Project, Ministry of Education of China (NO704030), the Shandong Technological Development Project (BS2009SW014, 2005BS03022 and 2005GG4202018), Taishan Scholar Foundation, and the SRF for ROCS, SEM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Haematology Oncology Centre, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaojuan Zhu, Daoxin Ma, Jingbo Zhang, Jun Peng, Chunyan Ji & Ming Hou

  2. The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Health, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaojuan Zhu, Daoxin Ma, Jingbo Zhang, Jun Peng & Ming Hou

  3. Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China

    Xun Qu

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  1. Xiaojuan Zhu
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  2. Daoxin Ma
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Correspondence to Daoxin Ma.

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Zhu, X., Ma, D., Zhang, J. et al. Elevated Interleukin-21 Correlated to Th17 and Th1 Cells in Patients with Immune Thrombocytopenia. J Clin Immunol 30, 253–259 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-009-9353-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-009-9353-1

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