[Th9 cells and related cytokines increase in the lung of mice with bronchial asthma].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the number of T helper 9 (Th9) cells and the level of Th9 cell related cytokines in the lung tissues of mice with bronchial asthma and understand their relationship to the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.

METHODS

Sixteen SPF BALB/c mice were randomized into normal group and asthma group (8 mice in each group). After asthmatic models were established, the airway responsiveness was detected with non-invasive lung function machine, ELISA was used for determining the concentrations of cytokine interleukin-9 (IL-9), IL-10 and IL-13 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), HE staining and PAS staining was employed for observing the lung pathological changes, flow cytometry was used for testing the percentages of lung IL-9+ lymphocytes, IL-10+ lymphocytes and IL-13+ lymphocytes in lung CD3+ lymphocytes.

RESULTS

Compared with normal group, asthma group showed higher airway responsiveness, more severe airway inflammation and increased concentrations of cytokine IL-9 and IL-13, decreased concentration of cytokine IL-10 in BALF, higher percentages of lung IL-9+ lymphocytes and IL-13+ lymphocytes in CD3+ lymphocytes, and lower percentage of IL-10+ lymphocytes.

CONCLUSION

The expression of IL-9 was higher, but IL-10 was lower in asthma group. Th9 cells might play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma.