Abstract:Objective To investigate the changes of interleukin-13(IL-13) in Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis(HSPN). Methods The production of IL-13 protein was determined by ELISA and the expression of IL-13 mRNA was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in 30 healthy children and 20 children with HSPN during their acute phase and remission stage, respectively. Results The levels of IL-13 mRNA and protein were significantly increased in the patients in their acute phase compared with the controls (0.48±0.11 vs 0.36±0.16 and 47.89±11.67 pg/ml vs 35.22±4.42 pg/ml, P<0.01 for both), while in the remission stage the amount of IL-13 decreased to normal levels (0.38±0.12 vs 0.36±0.16 and 35.94±5.60 pg/ml vs 35.22±4.42 pg/ml, P>0.05 for both). The production of IL-13 mRNA and protein in the acute phase of the HSPN patients clinically with proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome or acute glomerulonephritis syndrome was significantly higher than that in the controls. There was no significant difference between the HSPN patients in the acute phase clinically with only isolated hematuria and the controls. Conclusions The expression of IL-13 is abnormal and correlates with the clinical types in children with HSPN.
