title: High-dose dexamethasone inhibits BAFF expression in patients with immune thrombocytopenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  B-cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) is elevated in several autoimmune diseases including immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). High-dose dexamethasone (HD-DXM) has shown its clinical efficacy in ITP patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The plasma BAFF concentration and BAFF mRNA were measured in ITP patients before and after oral administration of 40 mg/day DXM for four consecutive days by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time quantitative PCR. Moreover, we evaluated the effects of DXM on BAFF expression and proliferation of lymphocytes by ELISA, real-time quantitative PCR and cell proliferation respectively in in vitro experiment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both plasma BAFF concentration and BAFF mRNA were significantly increased in active ITP patients at pretherapy when compared with controls (P < 0.001). After 4-day treatment with HD-DXM, the BAFF and BAFF mRNA were decreased, and lower than that for controls. In in vitro assays, we found DXM-inhibited BAFF, IFN-gamma expression, and the proliferation of lymphocytes in a dose-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that BAFF expression is increased in ITP patients with active disease, and DXM is an effective inhibitor of BAFF production. As immunosuppressant, DXM may play its role in ITP treatment partly through regulating BAFF expression.
authors.affiliation: Haematology Oncology Centre, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-juan
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jian-zhi
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Ning-ning
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Cheng-shan
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; D015847:Interleukin-4; D003907:Dexamethasone; D007371:Interferon-gamma