title: Cytokine pattern and endothelium damage markers in Henoch-Schönlein purpura.
abstract: In a longitudinal cohort study our aim was to evaluate the cytokine pattern of children affected by Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) and to correlate this pattern to vascular endothelium damage and to nephropathy. The following parameters were monitored at the onset of the disease (T0) and after 6 months of follow-up (T1): clinical scores, serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 2 (IL-2), soluble IL-2 receptor (IL-2sRalpha), fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor antigen (vWf:Ag) and soluble thrombomodulin (TMD) levels. A total of 24 children (9 M, 15 F), affected by HSP, aged between 3-14 years (median 6 years), were enrolled into the study. IL-2 serum levels were significantly increased at the onset of the disease compared to control group and T1. The same pattern was observed for IL-2sRalpha and TNF-alpha. Fibrinogen and vWf:Ag concentrations were significantly higher at the onset of disease than t1 and in control group. TMD levels resulted constantly within the normal range. Concerning the analyzed parameters, no significant difference resulted to be in subjects with and without renal involvement (hematuria and/or proteinuria). Finally, raised serum TNF-alpha concentration, related to vascular endothelium damage as shown by increased vWf:Ag levels, occurred invariably in children affected by HSP both with and without renal involvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine of Development Age, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni Carlo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Del Vecchio
authors.forename: Del Vecchio Giovanni
authors.initials: del VG
authors.lastname: Carlo
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Penza
authors.forename: Penza
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altomare
authors.forename: Altomare
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maria
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Piacente
authors.forename: Piacente
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laura
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aceto
authors.forename: Aceto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gabriella
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lassandro
authors.forename: Lassandro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giuseppe
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Mattia
authors.forename: De Mattia
authors.initials: de M
authors.lastname: Domenico
authors.forename: Paoala
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Giordano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006417:Hematuria / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D011695:IgA Vasculitis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018180:Thrombomodulin / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; C508594:IL2 protein, human; D007376:Interleukin-2; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D018180:Thrombomodulin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D005340:Fibrinogen