Magnesium Affects the Cytokine Secretion of CD4⁺ T Lymphocytes in Acute Asthma

Abstract

Introduction. Magnesium (Mg) administration has been shown to promote bronchodilation and to improve lung function in asthma. It also plays an additional role in modulating the immune responses. This study was initiated to explore if Mg supplementation could affect the secretion of cytokines in acute asthmatic CD4⁺ T cells. Methods. Total serum Mg concentrations of the acute asthmatic patients and healthy controls were determined. CD4⁺ T cells were isolated from the blood of the acute asthmatic patients. They were cultured in various concentrations of Mg-supplemented (0.8, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mmol/l) medium. Cytokine (IL-5, IL-13, and IFN-γ) levels were determined by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbnent Assay (ELISA). Results. Serum Mg concentration was lower in the acute asthmatic patients than that in the healthy controls (p < .05). The secretion of IL-5 and IL-13 was decreased, while the acute asthmatic CD4⁺ T cells were cultured in 10 and 15 mmol/l Mg-supplemented medium, respectively, as compared to the 0.8 mmol/l Mg group (p < .05). The secretion of IFN-γ increased in the 10 mmol/l Mg group (p < .05). Conclusion. Mg supplementation was able to modulate the immune responses of acute asthmatic CD4⁺ T cells and decrease the secretion of type 2 CD4⁺ T lymphocytes cytokines.

• acute asthma
• CD4⁺ T cell
• IFN-γ
• IL-5
• IL-13
• immune response
• magnesium
• regulation

Acknowledgment

We thank Ke Yin, Yan Zhang, Xiao Peng, and Yan Shen for technical support at the core facilities of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Rui-yun Liang, 81000015).