title: [IL-18 expression in whole blood cell cultures from active lupus nephritis and the inhibitory effects of FK506, cyclosporin A and dexamethasone].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the expression of IL-18 in patients with active lupus nephritis(LN) and the inhibitory effects of immunosupressive agents FK506, cyclosporin A (CsA) and dexamethasone(DEX).
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood samples were collected from 16 LN patients and 10 health volunteers and cultured with or without PHA/LPS, PHA/LPS+FK506, PHA/LPS+CsA and PHA/LPS+DEX for 24 hours. The IL-18 level in cultured supernatants and the IL-18 mRNA expression in cultured whole blood cells were detected by ELISA and semi-quantitative RT-PCR respectively, and the inhibitory effects of FK506, CsA and DEX on IL-18 expression were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression levels of IL-18 mRNA and its protein in whole blood cell cultures from LN patients were higher than those in normal control group (P<0.01) either spontaneously or after stimulation with LPS/PHA. FK506, CsA and DEX suppressed significantly the expressions of IL-18 mRNA and its protein (P<0.001) in LPS/PHA-stimulated whole blood cell from LN patients. The inhibitory effects of FK506, CsA and DEX on the IL-18 protein expression in LN patients were stronger than that in normal control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-18 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of LN and inhibition of IL-18 production may be an useful way to treat LN.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nephrology, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China. panzhix@soho.com
authors.forename: Zhi-xian
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Hua-feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: De-shen
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Xiao-wen
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D020382:Interleukin-18; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003907:Dexamethasone; D016572:Cyclosporine; D016559:Tacrolimus