PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Xiangyan Ai
AU  - Shiguo Chao
AU  - Xiaoxia Hou
TI  - 4-1BBL mediated balance of Th17/Treg in patients with allergic asthma
DP  - 2012 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P2303
VI  - 40
IP  - Suppl 56
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P2303.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P2303.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2012 Sep 01; 40
AB  - Objective: To investigate the expression of 4-1BBL in peripheral blood of patients with allergic asthma and its role in the balance of Th17/Treg cells. Methods: We detected the plasma soluble 4-1BBL (s4-1BBL) levels with ELISA and membrane expression of 4-1BBL (m4-1BBL) on monocytes with flow cytometry in patients with allergic asthma and controls. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with asthma were in vitro stimulated with or without 4-1BB agonistic mAb for 72h, the concentrations of IL-17 and TGF-β in supernatant were measured with ELISA and the percentages of Th17 and Treg cells were measured with flow cytometry. Results: The s4-1BBL concentrations of patients with asthma (202.47 ± 60.68 µg/L) were decreased than controls (298.29 ± 40.32 µg/L, p<0.01). The m4-1BBL on monocytes of patients with asthma (2.69 ± 1.85%) was decreased than the controls (9.06 ± 6.79%, p<0.01). The supernatant concentrations of TGF-β (655.81 ± 476.26 ng/L) and IL-17 (5202 ± 4143.74ng/L) in PBMCs stimulated with 4-1BB mAb were different from the isotype controls (TGF-β: 410.50 ± 368.03 ng/L, IL-17: 8377 ± 3839.98 ng/L, both p<0.05). There was a lower proportion of Th17 cells (1.298 ± 0.53% vs 1.536 ± 1.01%) and a higher proportion of Treg cells (3.45 ± 1.03% vs 2.76 ± 0.97%) in the 4-1BB mAb group than isotype control, but no difference between the two groups (p>0.05) Conclusions: Both s4-1BBL and m4-1BBL decreased in peripheral blood of patients with allergic asthma. In vitro agonistic 4-1BB antibody stimulation enhanced TGF-β but inhibited IL-17 production by PBMCs. Thus 4-1BBL/4-BB may restore Th17/Treg balance in allergic asthma more likely by changing the function of Th17 and Treg cells.