Role of Th2 cells in IgG4-related lacrimal gland enlargement

Hiroko Kanari; Shin-ichiro Kagami; Daisuke Kashiwakuma; Yoshihiro Oya; Shunsuke Furuta; Kei Ikeda; Akira Suto; Kotaro Suzuki; Koichi Hirose; Norihiko Watanabe; Yoshitaka Okamoto; Shuichi Yamamoto; Itsuo Iwamoto; Hiroshi Nakajima

doi:10.1159/000312125

Role of Th2 cells in IgG4-related lacrimal gland enlargement

Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2010:152 Suppl 1:47-53. doi: 10.1159/000312125. Epub 2010 Jun 4.

Authors

Hiroko Kanari¹, Shin-ichiro Kagami, Daisuke Kashiwakuma, Yoshihiro Oya, Shunsuke Furuta, Kei Ikeda, Akira Suto, Kotaro Suzuki, Koichi Hirose, Norihiko Watanabe, Yoshitaka Okamoto, Shuichi Yamamoto, Itsuo Iwamoto, Hiroshi Nakajima

Affiliation

¹ Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.

PMID: 20523063
DOI: 10.1159/000312125

Abstract

Background: Lacrimal gland enlargement (LGE) is one of the characteristics of Mikulicz's disease (MD). Recently, marked serum IgG4 elevation and infiltration of IgG4-positive plasmacytes in the enlarged exocrine glands have been reported in MD patients. However, little is known about the role of CD4+ T cells and their cytokines in IgG4-related diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of CD4+ T cells in patients with IgG4-related diseases.

Methods: We investigated the clinical characteristics of 9 patients with LGE and elevated serum IgG4 levels (named IgG4-related LGE). We also examined mRNA expression of cytokines and transcription factors of peripheral blood CD4+ T cells in patients with IgG4-related LGE.

Results: All patients with IgG4-related LGE showed elevated serum IgE levels. In addition, 5 of 9 patients with IgG4-related LGE exhibited eosinophilia and asthma-like symptoms. In patients with IgG4-related LGE, mRNA expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and GATA-3 but not IFN-gamma or T-bet was enhanced on CD4+ T cells compared with that in healthy controls.

Conclusions: Th2 cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of IgG4-related diseases.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adrenergic beta-Agonists / administration & dosage
Adrenergic beta-Agonists / pharmacology
Adult
Aged
Allergens / immunology
Asthma / blood
Asthma / metabolism
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
Eosinophils / cytology
Female
Forced Expiratory Volume / drug effects
Forced Expiratory Volume / physiology
GATA3 Transcription Factor / genetics
Gene Expression / genetics
Gene Expression / immunology
Humans
Hypertrophy / immunology
Hypertrophy / metabolism
Hypertrophy / pathology
Immunoglobulin E / blood
Immunoglobulin E / immunology
Immunoglobulin G / blood*
Immunoglobulin G / metabolism
Interleukin-10 / genetics
Interleukin-13 / genetics
Interleukin-4 / genetics
Interleukin-5 / genetics
Interleukins / genetics
Lacrimal Apparatus / pathology*
Leukocyte Count
Male
Middle Aged
Plasma Cells / metabolism
Plasma Cells / pathology
Respiratory Sounds / diagnosis
Respiratory Sounds / drug effects
Th2 Cells / immunology*
Th2 Cells / metabolism

Substances

Adrenergic beta-Agonists
Allergens
GATA3 Transcription Factor
GATA3 protein, human
IL10 protein, human
IL4 protein, human
IL5 protein, human
Immunoglobulin G
Interleukin-13
Interleukin-5
Interleukins
Interleukin-10
Interleukin-4
Immunoglobulin E
interleukin-21