Ann Dermatol.  2014 Jun;26(3):303-307.

Elevated Serum Levels of Visfatin in Patients with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura

• Cao N
• Chen T
• Guo ZP
• Li MM
• Jiao XY

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is an immune complex-mediated disease predominantly characterized by the deposition of circulating immune complexes containing immunoglobulin A (IgA) on the walls of small vessels. Although the pathogenesis of HSP is not yet fully understood, some researchers proposed that B-cell activation might play a critical role in the development of this disease.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the serum levels of visfatin (pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor), B-cell-activating factor (BAFF), and CXCL13, and to analyze their association with disease severity.
METHODS
The serum levels of visfatin, BAFF, and CXCL13 were measured by using a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 43 patients with HSP and 45 controls. The serum levels of IgA anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) were detected by using a double-antigen sandwich ELISA.
RESULTS
Levels of visfatin but not BAFF and CXCL13 were significantly elevated in the sera of patients with HSP in the acute stage, and restored to normal levels in the convalescent stage. Furthermore, serum levels of visfatin were significantly higher in patients with HSP having renal involvement than in those without renal involvement. Serum levels of visfatin were correlated with the severity of HSP and serum concentration of ACA-IgA.
CONCLUSION
We show for the first time that the serum levels of visfatin are abnormally elevated in patients with HSP. Visfatin may be associated with the pathogenesis of HSP.

Keyword

B-cell activating factor; Chemokine CXCL13; Henoch-Schoenlein purpura; Immunoglobulin A; Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase

MeSH Terms

Antibodies, Anticardiolipin
Antigen-Antibody Complex
B-Cell Activating Factor
B-Lymphocytes
Chemokine CXCL13
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Humans
Immunoglobulin A
Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase*
Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch*
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin
Antigen-Antibody Complex
B-Cell Activating Factor
Chemokine CXCL13
Immunoglobulin A
Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The serum levels of visfatin, B-cell-activating factor (BAFF), and CXCL13 were determined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sera were obtained from 43 patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) in the acute stage, 30 patients with urticarial vasculitis (UV), and 45 control subjects. The serum levels of visfatin (A) but not BAFF (B) and CXCL13 (C) in patients with HSP were significantly higher than those in control subjects. p-values are based on the results of the Mann-Whitney U-test. Wilcoxon signed ranks test for paired data showed that the serum levels of visfatin (D) of 16 patients with HSP in the acute stage were significantly higher than those in the convalescent stage.

• 

  Fig. 2 The serum levels of visfatin in patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) having renal involvement (HSP1) or without (HSP2) renal involvement were determined by using ELISA. p-values are based on the results of the Mann-Whitney U-test.

• 

  Fig. 3 Positive correlations were found between serum levels of visfatin and overall clinical scores (A), and between serum levels of visfatin and the concentrations of immunoglobulin A (IgA) anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) (B) in 33 patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura in the acute stage, by using the Spearman test.

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