Interleukin-28A promotes IFN-γ production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with Behçet’s disease

•Increased mRNA expression of IFN-γ by IL-28A-stimulated PBMCs from BD patients.•Increased protein production of IFN-γ by IL-28A-stimulated PBMCs from BD patients.•No IL-17 expression by IL-28A-stimulated PBMCs from BD patients.

Behçet’s disease (BD) is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology. Interleukin-28A (IL-28A) promotes immune responses and may participate in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. To examine the role of IL-28A in the pathogenesis of BD, we measured the expression of IFN-γ and IL-17 by IL-28A-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 19 patients with BD and 16 healthy individuals. We found that IFN-γ and IL-17 were undetectable in the sera from BD patients and control subjects. The mRNA expression and protein production of IFN-γ by IL-28A-stimulated PBMCs from BD patients were significantly increased compared to healthy individuals. No significant difference was observed in the mRNA expression and protein production of IL-17 by IL-28A-stimulated PBMCs between BD patients and normal individuals.