Expression of IL-21 in the peripheral blood of myasthenia gravis patients and its correlation with anti-AChR-Ab class switch.
10.3969/j.issn.1672-7347.2010.09.010
- Author:
Bo HU
1
;
Xiaolin TIAN
;
Huifen HUANG
;
Ai JIAN
;
Song OUYANG
;
Weifan YIN
;
Weiwei DUAN
;
Huan YANG
Author Information
1. Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Adult;
Autoantibodies;
classification;
immunology;
Female;
Humans;
Immunoglobulin Class Switching;
immunology;
Immunoglobulin G;
classification;
Interleukins;
blood;
genetics;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Myasthenia Gravis;
blood;
immunology;
RNA, Messenger;
blood;
genetics;
Receptors, Cholinergic;
immunology;
Receptors, Interleukin-21;
blood;
genetics;
Young Adult
- From:
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences)
2010;35(9):958-963
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:To explore the role of IL-21 in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis (MG) and its influence on the the class switch of anti-AChR antibodies.
METHODS:Blood was taken from 26 patients and 18 healthy controls, and the expression of IL-21R mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was detected by RT-PCR. The expression of IL-21R on B lymphocytes was measured by flow cytometry, while the concentrations of serum IL-21 and the levels of anti-AChR-IgG and its isotype IgG(1), IgG(2), and IgG(3) were tested by ELISA.
RESULTS:The serum concentration of IL-21 in the MG group was higher than that in the control group (31.686±8.499 pg/mL, 15.147±6.366 pg/mL) and the difference was significant (P<0.01). IL-21R mRNA expressed on PBMCs in the MG group was higher than that in the control group (0.139±0.052, 0.101±0.022), and the difference was significant (P<0.05). There was no difference between ocular MG and generalized MG subgroup (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression of IL-21R on B lymphocytes also increased in the MG group (P<0.05). In the anti-AChR-Ab positive MG group, the serum concentration of IL-21 showed positive correlation with anti-AChR-IgG(P<0.05),but no correlation with its isotype IgG(1), IgG(2), and IgG(3), respectively(P>0.05). Expression of IL-21R mRNA in the PBMCs showed no correlation with the level of serum anti-AChR-IgG and its isotype IgG(1), IgG(2), and IgG(3), respectively(P>0.05); however the expression of IL-21R in B lymphocytes showed positive correlation with anti-AChR-IgG and it's isotype IgG(1) and IgG(3) (P<0.05,P<0.01,P<0.05), but no correlation with IgG(2) (P>0.05).
CONCLUSION:IL-21 might induce the class switch of anti-AChR antibodies to IgG(1) and IgG(3) isotype through IL-21R on B lymphocytes which promotes the pathogenesis of the MG.
