title: Elevated serum levels of APRIL, but not BAFF, in patients with atopic dermatitis.
abstract: Elevated serum levels of B-cell-activating factor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) and/or a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) are shown in autoimmune diseases. We determined serum levels of BAFF and APRIL, and clinical association in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Serum levels of BAFF and APRIL from 35 patients with AD, 25 patients with psoriasis vulgaris, 25 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 25 normal healthy subjects were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum levels of APRIL, but not BAFF, were significantly elevated in patients with AD than in healthy controls or patients with psoriasis vulgaris. Patients with severe AD exhibited significantly increased APRIL levels compared to patients with moderate AD and mild AD, and serum APRIL levels were significantly decreased after treatment compared with those before treatment. In addition, increased APRIL levels were significantly associated with serum immunoglobulin E levels and blood eosinophil numbers. These results suggest that elevated serum levels of APRIL are associated with disease severity and activity in AD, and APRIL may have an important role in the pathogenesis of AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Echigo
authors.forename: Yukiyo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takehara
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D005938:Glucocorticoids; C114631:TNFSF13 protein, human; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13; D007073:Immunoglobulin E