Premium
Increased percentages of T cells producing interleukin‐21 in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura
Author(s) -
Zhang Qian,
Bai Hai,
Wang Wenhui
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
cell biology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1095-8355
pISSN - 1065-6995
DOI - 10.1002/cbin.10220
Subject(s) - thrombocytopenic purpura , immunology , immune system , flow cytometry , cytokine , medicine , interleukin , autoimmune disease , antibody
Abstract Interleukin (IL)‐21, a cytokine which promotes differentiation of Th17, follicular helper T cell and B cells, may play an important role in controlling the autoimmune process in immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), an acquired organ‐specific autoimmune hemorrhagic disease. The frequencies of IL‐21‐producing T cells and serum levels of IL‐21 were determined by flow cytometry analysis and ELISA, respectively, in 24 ITP patients and nine healthy controls. RT‐PCR showed that the frequencies of circulating IL‐21‐producing T cells and serum levels of IL‐21 were significantly higher in ITP patients than that in healthy controls. Serum IL‐21 and IL‐21 expression in patients with ITP significantly decreased after therapy, suggesting IL‐21 might be important in ITP.