Decreased interleukin‐21 expression in skin and blood in advanced mycosis fungoides. Issue 7 (30th January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kabasawa, Miyoko; Sugaya, Makoto; Oka, Tomonori; Takahashi, Naomi; Kawaguchi, Makiko; Suga, Hiraku; Miyagaki, Tomomitsu; Takahashi, Takehiro; Shibata, Sayaka; Fujita, Hideki; Asano, Yoshihide; Tada, Yayoi; Kadono, Takafumi; Okochi, Hitoshi; Sato, Shinichi
• Is Part Of: Journal of dermatology. Volume 43:Issue 7(2016)
• Page Start: 819
• Page End: 822
• Publication Date: 2016-01-30
• Subjects: cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma -- interleukin‐21 -- keratinocytes -- mycosis fungoides -- T‐helper 1 cells; Dermatology -- Periodicals; Dermatology -- Japan -- Periodicals; Skin -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.5005
• DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.13278
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0385-2407

Abstract

Abstract: Interleukin (IL)‐21 is regarded as a potent antitumor agent, which increases the cytotoxicity of both natural killer (NK) and CD8 + T cells. In this study, we investigated the role of IL‐21 in mycosis fungoides (MF). IL‐21 mRNA expression levels in patch and plaque MF were significantly higher than those in normal skin. IL‐21 mRNA expression levels in tumor MF were significantly decreased compared with those in patch and plaque MF. Interestingly, mRNA expression levels of IL‐21 in MF lesional skin significantly correlated with those of T‐helper type‐1 cytokines/chemokines such as CXCL10, CXCL11 and γ‐interferon. Immunohistochemistry showed that IL‐21 was expressed by keratinocytes in patch and plaque MF. Furthermore, serum IL‐21 levels in patients with tumor MF were significantly lower than those of healthy controls and plaque MF. Thus, IL‐21 expression was significantly downregulated in skin and blood of patients with tumor MF, which may contribute to progression of MF. Our study suggests that recombinant IL‐21 would be a promising therapy for MF.