| Title |
Interleukin-21 plays a critical role in the pathogenesis and severity of type I autoimmune hepatitis
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
SpringerPlus, June 2016
|
| DOI | 10.1186/s40064-016-2512-y |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Kazumichi Abe, Atsushi Takahashi, Hiromichi Imaizumi, Manabu Hayashi, Ken Okai, Yukiko Kanno, Hiroshi Watanabe, Hiromasa Ohira |
| Abstract |
Recently, the number of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells expressing interleukin (IL)-21 was found to increase in peripheral blood of human and murine models of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). IL-21, the most recently discovered member of the type-I cytokine family, exerts various effects on the immune system, including B cell activation, plasma cell differentiation, and immunoglobulin production. We aimed to assess the relationship of serum IL-21 levels in patients with type I AIH with clinical and laboratory parameters and histology. Ninety-two Japanese patients with liver disease (22 AIH, 20 primary biliary cholangitis, 19 drug-induced liver injury, 8 acute hepatitis B, 8 chronic hepatitis C, 10 non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, 5 viral hepatitis) and 10 healthy volunteers were recruited. Serum IL-21 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Real-time polymerase chain reaction measured mRNA levels of Bcl-6, IL-21, and CXCR5 (Tfh-related factors) in peripheral mononuclear cells. Mean age at diagnosis of AIH was 58.6 years, male-to-female ratio was 4:18, 18.2 % of participants had cirrhosis, and 22.7 % had severe disease. IL-21 levels were significantly increased in the serum of patients with AIH compared to those with other liver diseases and controls (p < 0.0001). Particularly, serum IL-21 levels were significantly increased in severe AIH cases compared to non-severe cases (p < 0.05). Serum IL-21 levels correlated positively with total serum bilirubin levels (r = 0.46, p < 0.05), grading of necroinflammatory activity (r = 0.68, p < 0.005) and negatively with serum albumin levels in patients with AIH (r = -0.49, p < 0.05). In patients with biochemical remission of AIH, serum IL-21 levels remained elevated and correlated positively with serum IgG levels (r = 0.84, p < 0.01). Expression of Tfh-related factors, such as Bcl-6 and IL-21, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with AIH was significantly higher than that in healthy volunteers. IL-21 may play an important role in the pathogenesis and severity of AIH, and may present a promising target for AIH therapy. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 2 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 2 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 2 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 44 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 44 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Bachelor | 6 | 14% |
| Student > Doctoral Student | 5 | 11% |
| Student > Master | 5 | 11% |
| Researcher | 5 | 11% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 5 | 11% |
| Other | 8 | 18% |
| Unknown | 10 | 23% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine and Dentistry | 17 | 39% |
| Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 5 | 11% |
| Immunology and Microbiology | 3 | 7% |
| Engineering | 2 | 5% |
| Chemistry | 2 | 5% |
| Other | 2 | 5% |
| Unknown | 13 | 30% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 1. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 08 July 2016.
All research outputs
#17,810,867
of 22,880,230 outputs
Outputs from SpringerPlus
#1,204
of 1,851 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#253,640
of 353,579 outputs
Outputs of similar age from SpringerPlus
#150
of 222 outputs
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