Lanlan Yang1, Qian Zhang1, Jie Song1, Wudong Wang1, Zhenjing Jin2. 1. Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Medicine, The Second Hospital, Jilin University, No. 218 Ziqiang St, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130041, Jilin Province, China. 2. Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Medicine, The Second Hospital, Jilin University, No. 218 Ziqiang St, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130041, Jilin Province, China. jljinyu0429@126.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-35 is a newly indentified cytokine and induces immunotolerance via suppression of CD8+ T cell activity in chronic viral hepatitis. AIMS: To investigate the modulatory function of IL-35 to CD8+ T cells in viral hepatitis-induced acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). METHODS: Fifty-five ACLF patients and 21 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum IL-35 concentration was measured by ELISA. Absolute accounts for T cells, immune checkpoint molecules, and cytotoxic molecules in CD8+ T cells were measured by flow cytometry and real-time PCR, respectively. Direct and indirect contact co-culture systems between CD8+ T cells and HepG2 cells were set up. The regulatory function of IL-35 to CD8+ T cells was assessed by measuring lactate dehydrogenase expression and cytokine production. RESULTS: Serum IL-35 concentration was elevated in ACLF patients and positively correlated with total bilirubin, but negatively correlated with prothrombin time activity. Peripheral CD8+ T cells showed exhausted phenotype in ACLF patients, which manifested as up-regulation of programmed death-1 (PD-1), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (CTLA-4), and lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) but down-regulation of perforin, granzyme B, and FasL. Recombinant IL-35 stimulation dampened cytotoxicity and interferon-γ production in both direct and indirect contact co-culture systems. This process was accompanied by elevation of PD-1, CTLA-4, and LAG3, as well as reduction of perforin, granzyme B, and FasL in CD8+ T cells. CONCLUSION: Elevated IL-35 suppressed both cytolytic and non-cytolytic activity of CD8+ T cells in ACLF patients.
BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-35 is a newly indentified cytokine and induces immunotolerance via suppression of CD8+ T cell activity in chronic viral hepatitis. AIMS: To investigate the modulatory function of IL-35 to CD8+ T cells in viral hepatitis-induced acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). METHODS: Fifty-five ACLF patients and 21 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum IL-35 concentration was measured by ELISA. Absolute accounts for T cells, immune checkpoint molecules, and cytotoxic molecules in CD8+ T cells were measured by flow cytometry and real-time PCR, respectively. Direct and indirect contact co-culture systems between CD8+ T cells and HepG2 cells were set up. The regulatory function of IL-35 to CD8+ T cells was assessed by measuring lactate dehydrogenase expression and cytokine production. RESULTS: Serum IL-35 concentration was elevated in ACLF patients and positively correlated with total bilirubin, but negatively correlated with prothrombin time activity. Peripheral CD8+ T cells showed exhausted phenotype in ACLF patients, which manifested as up-regulation of programmed death-1 (PD-1), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (CTLA-4), and lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) but down-regulation of perforin, granzyme B, and FasL. Recombinant IL-35 stimulation dampened cytotoxicity and interferon-γ production in both direct and indirect contact co-culture systems. This process was accompanied by elevation of PD-1, CTLA-4, and LAG3, as well as reduction of perforin, granzyme B, and FasL in CD8+ T cells. CONCLUSION: Elevated IL-35 suppressed both cytolytic and non-cytolytic activity of CD8+ T cells in ACLF patients.
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Keywords:
Acute-on-chronic liver failure; CD8+ T cells; Immunotolerance; Interleukin-35