Association between CTLA-4 gene polymorphism and Henoch-Schönlein purpura in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between CTLA-4 gene polymorphism and Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty children who were diagnosed with HSP were enrolled as the case group, consisting of 33 males and 27 females. Thirty healthy children were enrolled as the control group. The patients were further divided into HSP nephritis (HSPN) and non-HSPN groups (n=30 each) according to the presence or absence of nephritis. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to analyze the genotype and allele frequencies at +49 and -1722 loci.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>AA, AG, and GG genotypes were detected at +49; neither genotype nor allele frequencies showed significant differences between the case and control groups, between the HSPN and non-HSPN groups, and between male and female patients (P>0.05). TT, TC, and CC genotypes were detected at -1722; neither genotype nor allele frequencies showed significant differences between the case and control groups and between male and female patients (P>0.05). There were significant differences in CC genotype frequency and T and C allele frequencies between the HSPN and non-HSPN groups (P<0.05). Combinational analysis of +49 A/G and -1722 T/C showed no significant differences in the genotype frequency between the case and control groups and between male and female patients (P>0.05). GG-CC combination showed a significant difference between the HSPN and non-HSPN groups (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CTLA-4 +49 A/G polymorphism is not associated with HSP. CC genotype and C allele of CTLA-4 -1722 and the combination of GG at +49 A/G and CC at -1722 T/C may be risk factors for HSPN.</p>

Effects of hemoperfusion treatment on serum IL-23 and IL-17 levels in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpure / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of hemoperfusion treatment on serum interleukin-17 (IL-17) and IL-23 levels in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-seven children who were diagnosed with HSP and who had received hemoperfusion treatment between January 2011 and December 2012 were enrolled. Twenty-seven sex- and age-matched healthy children were recruited as normal controls. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum concentrations of IL-17 and IL-23.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The serum IL-23 and IL-17 levels in the HSP group were significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). After hemoperfusion treatment, the serum IL-23 and IL-17 levels in the HSP group were significantly reduced to the levels of the control group. Serum serum IL-17 level was positively correlated with serum IL-23 level (P<0.05) in children with HSP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Hemoperfusion treatment can reduce serum IL-23 and IL-17 levels in children with HSP, suggesting that the treatment may be effective for HSP.</p>