title: IL-18 is correlated with type-2 immune response in children with steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome.
abstract: Children with steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) is thought to have dysregulated type-1/type-2 cytokine network. Interleukin (IL)-18 is a cytokine, which may enhance both type-1 and type-2 responses, depending on the cytokines milieu. This prospective study aimed to assess type-1/type-2 cytokine synthesis and production profile in different stages of SSNS and define the potent involvement of IL-18. Twenty-three children with SSNS, aged 2.5-14 years, were studied; 23/23 both in active stage before treatment initiation and in remission still on steroids; 15/23 in remission off steroids as well. Data were compared with those obtained from 25 age-matched controls. The following parameters were assessed: Basic T cell populations, percentages of CD3+/CD69+/IFN-gamma+ and CD3+/CD69+/IL-4+ T cells as well as serum levels of IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-13 and IL-18. No difference in IL-2 levels was found between nephrotic children of all disease stages and controls (p>0.05). Percentage of CD3+/CD69+/IL-4+ T cells and serum levels of IL-4, IL-13 and IL-18 were significantly higher in the active stage of SSNS compared with the remission stages and controls (p<0.05). On the contrary, percentage of CD3+/CD69+/IFN-gamma+ T cells as well as serum IFN-gamma were significantly lower during active disease stage compared with remission stages and controls (p<0.05). In children with SSNS, of all disease stages, serum levels of IL-18 were significantly correlated with both IL-4 and IL-13 (r=0.628 and p<0.0001, r=0.71 and p<0.0001, respectively). It seems that a type-2 cytokine synthesis and production pattern prevails in children with active SSNS and IL-18 expression is significantly correlated with this type-2 immune response.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital, Konstantinoupoleos 49, 54642, Thessaloniki, Greece. nprintza@in.gr
authors.forename: Nikoleta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Printza
authors.forename: Fotios
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Papachristou
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tzimouli
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taparkou
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kanakoudi-Tsakalidou
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012074:Remission Induction; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018793:Interleukin-13; D020382:Interleukin-18; D007376:Interleukin-2; D013256:Steroids; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma