title: [Expression of interleukin-18 and interleukin-18 receptor alpha chain of the peripheral white blood cells in immune thrombocytopenia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect the expression of interleukin (IL)-18 of the peripheral blood cells and IL-18 receptor alpha chain (IL-18Ralpha) on the surface of CD(3)(+) cells in patients newly diagnosed as immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) before medication and to explore the roles of IL-18 and IL-18Ralpha in the development of ITP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen out-patients or inpatients with acute ITP accepting treatment in Qilu Hospital were enrolled in this study and 15 matching healthy subjects were taken as control. Plasma IL-18 level was detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the expression of IL-18Ralpha on CD(3)(+) lymphocytes and total lymphocytes were measured with flow cytometry;T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA were measured with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of IL-18 in acute ITP plasma was (468.57 + or - 141.62) ng/L and IL-18Ralpha on the surface of CD(3)(+) cells and lymphocytes were (8.50 + or - 3.16)% and (9.16 + or - 2.98)% respectively. The levels of IL-18 and IL-18Ralpha were increased in active ITP patients as compared with those in the controls (P < 0.05). The levels of IL-18 mRNA (0.12 + or - 0.02) and T-bet mRNA (0.07 + or - 0.02) were significantly increased in patients with active ITP as compared with those in the controls (P < 0.05), while GATA-3 mRNA (0.0039 + or - 0.0014) were significantly decreased in patients with active ITP (P < 0.05). The balance between T-bet and GATA-3 was significantly disturbed in ITP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Through the variation of the levels of gene and protein, our study showed that IL-18 and IL-18Ralpha might upregulate the expression of Th1-cytokines in ITP patients. It is also suggested that IL-18 has potential association with the development of ITP. Especially, it may provide a new treatment method for ITP by regulating the ratio of T-bet and GATA-3 and resuming the balance of Th1/Th2.
authors.affiliation: Haematology Oncology Centre, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Feng-xia
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Ning-ning
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Xiao-jing
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Hong-chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-lin
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xue-bin
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Chun-yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D053727:Interleukin-18 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
chemical_list: D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494749:GATA3 protein, human; D020382:Interleukin-18; D053727:Interleukin-18 Receptor alpha Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor