Neutralization of interleukin-9 ameliorates symptoms of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis in rats by decreasing effector T cells and altering humoral responses.
|
| Abstract |
Interleukin-9 (IL-9) was initially thought to be a type 2 T helper (Th2)-associated cytokine involved in the regulation of autoimmune responses by affecting multiple cell types. However, it was recently shown that IL-9-producing CD4+ T cells represent a discrete subset of Th cells, designated Th9 cells. Although Th9 cells have been shown to be important in many diseases, their roles in myasthenia gravis (MG) are unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether IL-9 and Th9 cells promote the progression of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG). The results showed that the percentage of Th9 cells changed during the progression of EAMG, accompanied by an up-regulation of IL-9. Blocking IL-9 activity with antibodies against IL-9 inhibited EAMG-associated pathology in rats and reduced serum anti-acetylcholine receptor IgG levels. Neutralization of IL-9 altered the Th subset distribution in EAMG, reducing the number of Th1 cells and increasing the number of regulatory T cells. Administration of an anti-IL-9 antibody may represent an effective therapeutic strategy for MG-associated pathologies or other T-cell- or B-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases.
|
|---|---|
| Authors | Xiuhua Yao, Qingfei Kong, Xiaoli Xie, Jinghua Wang, Na Li, Yumei Liu, Bo Sun, Ying Li, Guangyou Wang, Wenjin Li, Siying Qu, Haijun Zhao, Dandan Wang, Xijun Liu, Yao Zhang, Lili Mu, Hulun Li |
| Journal | Immunology (Immunology) Vol. 143 Issue 3 Pg. 396-405 (Nov 2014) ISSN: 1365-2567 [Electronic] England |
| PMID | 24850614 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't) |
| Copyright | © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. |
| Chemical References |
|
| Topics |
|
Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!