[Increased expression of IL-9 in peripheral blood and liver tissues of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis].

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of interleukin 9 (IL-9) in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Methods The study enrolled 80 PBC patients and 100 healthy subjects. Levels of serum IL-9, interferon γ (IFN-γ), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), IL-10 and IL-17 were determined by cytometric beads array (CBA); level of IL-9 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was detected by quantitative real-time PCR; the expression and location of IL-9 in liver tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results Serum levels of IL-9, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, IFN-γ and IL-10 significantly increased in PBC patients in comparison with healthy controls, and a positively correlation between IL-9 and IgG was observed in PBC patients. In addition, the expression of IL-9 mRNA in PBC groups increased. Immunohistochemical results suggested that positive cells appeared in the PBC liver tissue, mainly in the portal area. Conclusion Expression of IL-9 remarkably increases in peripheral blood and liver tissues in patients with PBC.