Elevated Serum Levels of IL-21 in Kawasaki Disease.
10.4168/aair.2012.4.6.351
- Author:
Yon Jung BAE
1
;
Mi Hyun KIM
;
Hae Yong LEE
;
Young UH
;
Mee Kyung NAMGOONG
;
Byung Ho CHA
;
Jin Kyong CHUN
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju Christian Hospital, Wonju, Korea. jkchunped@yonsei.ac.kr, reehy@yonsei.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Interleukin-21;
immunoglobulin E;
mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome
- MeSH:
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay;
Fever;
Humans;
Immunoassay;
Immunoglobulin E;
Immunoglobulins;
Interleukin-4;
Interleukins;
Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome
- From:Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
2012;4(6):351-356
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The serum level of immunoglobulin (Ig)E has been reported to be elevated in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). We investigated whether interleukin (IL)-21, rather than IL-4, could be related to elevated serum levels of IgE in KD. METHODS: Sera from 48 patients with KD and 12 controls with high fever were collected to determine the level of IgE using an immunoassay system and the levels of IL-4 and IL-21 were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. RESULTS: The median IL-21 level of KD patients was significantly elevated, at 499.5 pg/mL (range: <62.5-1,544 pg/mL), whereas that of controls was <62.5 pg/mL (<62.5-825 pg/mL; P<0.001). The median IL-4 level of KD patients was not elevated (4.0 pg/mL; 2.1-7.6 pg/mL). The median level of total IgE in KD patients was 58.0 IU/mL (5-1,109 IU/mL). No statistically significant correlation was found between IL-21 and total IgE levels (Spearman's R=0.2; P=0.19). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with KD have elevated levels of IL-21 in the serum. IL-21 may play a role in the pathogenesis of KD.
