title: Serum leptin levels in patients with childhood immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: Acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) induces thrombocytopenia by means of an autoimmune mechanism. Recent studies suggested that T helper immune response is responsible for the pathogenesis of chronic ITP. Despite several studies that were carried out, we do not have a clue as to what triggers the autoimmunity. Leptin is a 16-kd protein secreted from the adipose tissue. Leptin is structurally similar to interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, and IL-15. The structural similarities between leptin receptor and hematopoietic cytokine receptors suggested that leptin could play a role in hematopoiesis and immune function. Recent studies suggested that leptin could play an important role in autoimmunity. We made a prospective analysis of a series of 39 newly diagnosed acute childhood ITP in a year period. Serum leptin levels were obtained after diagnosis and before treatment and all patients were followed up at least 6 months to designate acute or chronic event. We conclude that in childhood acute ITP, leptin did not play a role in the pathophysiology of the disease. Further investigations are needed to examine what triggers T cells and how the autoimmune disease became.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey. mhmtkose@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kose
authors.forename: Mehmet Akif
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gumus
authors.forename: Musa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karakukcu
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akcakus
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D015551:Autoimmunity; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D040681:Structural Homology, Protein; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D020738:Leptin