Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2012 Nov;4(6):351-356. 10.4168/aair.2012.4.6.351.

Elevated Serum Levels of IL-21 in Kawasaki Disease

• Bae YJ
• Kim MH
• Lee HY
• Uh Y
• Namgoong M
• Cha BH
• Chun JK

• KMID: 2167024
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2012.4.6.351

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.

Keyword

Interleukin-21; immunoglobulin E; mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome

MeSH Terms

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Fever
Humans
Immunoassay
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulins
Interleukin-4
Interleukins
Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulins
Interleukin-4
Interleukins

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The elevated serum level of interleukin-21 (IL-21) in Kawasaki disease (KD). IL-21 was significantly elevated in patients with KD compared to febrile controls (P=0.0006). ***P<0.001.

• 

  Fig. 2 Serum interleukin-21 (IL-21) and total IgE levels in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). No significant correlation was found between IL-21 and total IgE (P=0.19).

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