title: Imbalance of interleukin-18 and interleukin-18 binding protein in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura.
abstract: The balance between interleukin-18 (IL-18) and its endogenous antagonist, IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP), was evaluated in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP). Plasma IL-18 and IL-18BP levels and peripheral blood mononuclear cell IL-18 mRNA expression were significantly  higher in patients with active HSP (n = 30) than in healthy controls (n = 20); IL-18BP mRNA expression was similar in active HSP and controls. Plasma levels and mRNA expression of IL-18 and IL-18BP in patients in remission (n = 19) were similar to those in controls. The  ratios of IL-18 / IL-18BP plasma levels and IL-18 / IL-18BP mRNA levels in active HSP were significantly higher than in patients in remission and healthy controls. Thus, adequate IL-18BP to block the proinflammatory activity of IL-18 may not be present in active HSP and regulation of the IL-18  / IL-18BP balance might provide a potential therapeutic strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Second Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Y B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: C X
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D011695:IgA Vasculitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020382:Interleukin-18; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C118370:interleukin-18 binding protein