title: Decreased serum level of IL-21 in new-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients.
abstract: This study aims to investigate the serum IL-21 levels in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its relations with clinical and laboratory features. Fifty-seven patients with SLE and 30 healthy volunteers were recruited in the current study. Serum IL-21 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analyses were performed by SPSS 10.01. Results showed that IL-21 levels were significantly decreased in the serum of patients with SLE compared with controls (P = 0.026). There was no significant difference regarding serum IL-21 level between SLE patients with nephritis and those without nephritis (P = 0.066); no significant difference was found between less active SLE and more active SLE (P = 0.588). The presence of anemia was associated with low serum IL-21 levels (P = 0.030) in SLE patients. In summary, decreased serum level of IL-21 and its association with anemia indicate a possible role of IL-21 in human SLE. However, further studies are needed to confirm this preliminary results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China. panhaifeng1982@gmail.com
authors.forename: Hai-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Guo-Cui
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yin-Guang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Rui-Xue
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Mo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Bao-Zhu
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jin-Hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Xiang-Pei
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dong-Qing
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D000098546:Interleukin-21
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