T-bet and interleukin-27: possible T(H)1 immunomodulators of sarcoidosis

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis has often been termed an “immune paradox” as there is peripheral anergy to common recall antigens despite pronounced T(H)1-dominant inflammation at disease sites, such as the lung, with up-regulation of interferon γ, IL-27 and transcription factors. Peripheral blood may reflect the anergic state, while exhaled breath condensate (EBC) analysis may offer insights into the lung disease. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the expression of T(H)1 cytokines and transcription factors (IFNγ, IL-27 and T-bet) in the peripheral blood and/or EBC of sarcoidosis patients and healthy controls. Whole blood and EBC were collected from sarcoidosis patients and healthy controls. T(H)1 cytokine expression levels were then measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and/or plasma and EBC using quantitative real-time PCR, ELISA and via Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, PBMC IL-27 mRNA was higher in patients (p = 0.0019). There were no significant differences in plasma IL-27 protein between patients and controls (p = 0.20). T-bet mRNA and protein were lower (p = 0.010 and p = 0.0043, respectively) in patients compared to controls. There were no significant differences in PBMC IFNγ mRNA and protein expression (p = 0.68 and p = 0.74, respectively) nor in EBC IL-27 levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that depressed T-bet mRNA and protein expression could contribute to the peripheral anergy in sarcoidosis and that IL-27 mRNA levels are elevated in the PBMC from those with sarcoidosis. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10787-015-0247-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorised users.