IL-21及其受体在银屑病患者外周血和皮损组织中的表达及意义

目的探讨IL-21及其受体在斑块型银屑病患者外周血PBMC和皮损组织中的表达情况及临床意义。方法采用流式细胞仪检测斑块型银屑病58例患者及20例健康对照者外周血PBMC中IL-21、IL-21R的表达；采用实时定量RT-PCR（quantitative real-time, RT-PCR）法检测25例银屑病和15例正常人外周血PBMCs和皮肤组织中IL-21、IL-21R mRNA的表达情况；采用Western印迹法检测皮肤组织中IL-21和IL-21R的表达情况；采用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）法检测PBMC培养上清液中IL-21的分泌水平。结果流式细胞仪检测发现银屑病患者PBMC中IL-21和IL-21R占CD4+T细胞的百分率明显增加（P<0.01）；Real-time PCR发现IL-21、IL-21R mRNA在银屑病患者的PBMC和皮肤组织中表达均较健康对照者增高（P<0.01，P<0.05）；Western印迹法显示IL-21和IL-21R蛋白在银屑病患者的皮损中表达增高（P<0.01）；ELISA检测发现培养上清中IL-21分泌水平增加（P<0.01）。结论斑块型银屑病患者PBMC和组织中IL-21和IL-21R的表达水平均较健康对照者升高，IL-21可能参与了银屑病的发病过程，并可能成为一个潜在的治疗靶点。
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of IL-21 and IL-21R in peripheral blood and skin tissues of patients with psoriasis vulgaris. MethodsThe expression of IL-21 and IL-21R in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 58 patients with psoriasis and 20 healthy controls were detected by flow cytometry. The expression of IL-21 and IL-21R mRNA and protein in PBMCs and skin tissues of 25 psoriasis patients and 15 non-psoriasis patients (control) was detected by Real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The levels of IL-21 in the PBMCs culture supernatant were detected by ELISA. ResultsThe flow cytometry showed that percentages of positive IL-21 and IL-21R CD4+T cells was significantly increased in patients with psoriasis. Real-time PCR and Western blotting showed that the expressions of IL-21 and IL-21R mRNA and protein in psoriasis patients were significantly higher in PBMCs and skin tissues than those in controls. ELISA detection showed that the IL-21 secretion level in PBMCs culture supernatant of psoriasis patients was increased. ConclusionExpressions of IL-21 and IL-21R in PBMCs and skin tissues in psoriasis patients are higher than in healthy controls. IL-21 may be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, and maybe a potential therapeutic target