Interleukin 35 may contribute to the loss of immunological self‐tolerance in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia

• DOI: 10.1111/bjh.13292
• Publication Date: 2015-01-29T22:11:05Z
• Authors: Tiantian Sun; Donglei Zhang; Yanhui Yang; Xian Zhang; Cuicui Lv; Rongfeng Fu; Mingen Lv; Wenjie Liu; Yunfei Chen; Wei Liu; Yueting Huang; Feng Xue; Xiaofan Liu; Lei Zhang; Huiyuan Li; Renchi Yang
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic; 0303 health sciences; Interleukins; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer; Middle Aged; Lymphocyte Activation; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; 3. Good health; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; Case-Control Studies; Immune Tolerance; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Cytokines; Humans; Female; Aged

SummaryPrimary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder. Interleukin‐35 (IL35) can suppress T cell proliferation and elicit the development of inducible regulatory T cells (Tregs). Previous studies have shown decreased plasma IL35 levels and dysfunctional T cells in patients with ITP. In this study, we determined whether decreased IL35 levels correlate with T cell dysfunction in ITP patients. Plasma IL35 levels were found to be lower in ITP patients than in healthy controls, were positively correlated with platelet levels and the percentage of peripheral circulating Tregs, and negatively correlated with the levels of T helper‐1 cells in ITP patients. We also evaluated the effects of IL35 on cytokines contributing to T cell proliferation. IL35 promoted the secretion of interleukin 10 (IL10) and transforming growth factor–β1 but reduced the levels of interferon‐γ and IL17A (also termed IL17). Moreover, IL35 inhibited the proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells but induced the differentiation and proliferation of Tregs in ITP. In summary, IL35 appears to contribute to the loss of immunological self‐tolerance in ITP patients by modulating T cells and immunoregulatory cytokines.