[Effect of high-dose dexamethasone on BAFF and Tregs in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura.].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the change of B-cell activating factor of the TNF family (BAFF) and regulatory T-cells (Tregs) before and after high-dose dexamethasone(HD-DXM) therapy and assess the effect of BAFF on Treg cells in immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).


METHODS
The plasma BAFF concentration was measured by ELISA, and Treg cell numbers by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
The plasma BAFF level \[(599.70 +/- 199.40) pg/ml\] was significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the percentage of Treg cells \[(1.56 +/- 0.73)%\] was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in ITP patients before treatment as compared with that in controls \[(454.5 +/- 132.5) pg/ml and (4.08 +/- 1.08)%, respectively\]. After treatment with HD-DXM, the plasma BAFF level \[(296.9 +/- 119.7) pg/ml\] was significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and the percentage of Treg cells \[(5.94 +/- 2.22)%\] was significantly increased (P < 0.01). The BAFF level and Treg proportion had no significant correlation with platelets count (P > 0.05). In in vitro assays, no difference was found in the number of Treg cells between rhBAFF0 group and rhBAFF20 group \[(1.53 +/- 0.69)%, (1.49 +/- 0.67)%, P = 0.89)\].


CONCLUSIONS
BAFF level was increased and Treg cells decreased in ITP patients. HD-DXM might play a role in ITP treatment by down-regulating BAFF expression and up-regulating Treg cells number. BAFF had no influence on the number of Treg cells.
Hematology Oncology Center, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
Chun-Yan
CY
Wang
Xiao-Juan
XJ
Zhu
Ming
M
Hou
Yan
Y
Shi
Jun
J
Peng
Jian-Zhi
JZ
Sun
Ping
P
Qin
Xue-Bin
XB
Ji
Lin
L
Wang
Qian
Q
Wang
D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D015847:Interleukin-4; D003907:Dexamethasone