[The role of interleukin-18 and interleukin-18 receptor in predominant Th1 immune response of patients with immune thrombocytopenia].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of interleukin (IL)-18 and IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) in the predominant Th1 type cytokine response in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).


METHODS
Fifteen patients with active phase ITP, eighteen in remission and thirteen healthy controls were enrolled in this study. T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononucleated cells (PBMNC) were measured by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); the plasma IL-18 level by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the expression of IL-18R on CD3(+) lymphocytes and total lymphocytes by flow cytometry(FCM).


RESULTS
The T-bet mRNA levels in patients with active phase ITP was 3.572 fold as much as that in the controls (P < 0.05), while the GATA-3 mRNA levels were 0.378 fold of that in controls (P < 0.05). The levels of plasma IL-18 and IL-18R on CD3(+) lymphocytes were significantly increased in active phase ITP than in remission phase and controls. There was no difference in ratio of T-bet/GATA-3 between remitted ITP and controls and so was for T-bet mRNA, GATA-3 mRNA, plasma IL-18 and IL-18R on CD3(+) lymphocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
ITP as a disease of Th1-dominant response there is an unbalance between T-bet and GATA-3 in its active phase; IL-18 and IL-18R being upregulated.
Wang
Qian
Q
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Haematology Oncology Centre, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
Yang
Xiao-Jing
XJ
Shan
Ning-Ning
NN
Hou
Ming
M
Ji
Xue-Bin
XB
Wang
Chun-Yan
CY
Zhu
Xiao-Juan
XJ
Yang
Lei
L
Zhang
Xiao-Lin
XL
Peng
Jun
J
Ma
Dao-Xin
DX
Shi
Yan
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D053724:Receptors, Interleukin-18 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494749:GATA3 protein, human; D020382:Interleukin-18; D053724:Receptors, Interleukin-18; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor