title: [The study of IL-18 and IL-18BP balance in aplastic anemia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of IL-18 and IL-18BP balance in aplastic anemia (AA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 29 AA patients and 22 controls were recruited in present research. The expressions of IL-18 and IL-18BP were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expressions of IL-18 and IL-18BP were measured in all subjects using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of the IL-18 in plasma of AA and normals were (365.5 ± 160.6) pg/ml and (175.9 ± 92.8) pg/ml (P < 0.01); and the expression of IL-18 in severe AA patients (441.3 ± 116.9) pg/ml were higher than that in non-severe AA patients (326.4 ± 167.0) pg/ml (P < 0.05). The level of IL-18BP was increased in plasma of AA (1788.6 ± 523.8) pg/ml than in normals (1083.6 ± 489.6) pg/ml (P < 0.05). But the ratio of IL-18/IL-18BP in AA patients was much higher than that in controls (P < 0.05). RT-PCR revealed the levels of IL-18 and IL-18BP mRNA were up-regulated in AA patients when compared to controls, but the ratio of IL-18/IL-18BP was significantly elevated in AA patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-18/IL-18BP imbalance may play an important role in pathogenesis of AA and regulating the balance of IL-18 and IL-18BP may be a therapeutic approach to AA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Ning-ning
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Yu-jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xiao-hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hong-zhi
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020382:Interleukin-18; C118370:interleukin-18 binding protein