Changes in 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase and Glucocorticoid Receptor Expression in Kawasaki Disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the significance of changes in the expression 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) for the development of Kawasaki disease (KD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine the mRNA expression levels of GR and 11β-HSD in peripheral blood monocytes, both in the acute phase of the disease and after treatment. Western blotting was performed to determine the protein expression levels of GR and 11β-HSD. RESULTS: The expression levels of GRβ, GRβ, and 11β-HSD1 mRNA in the acute phase were significantly higher than levels at baseline (p<0.01) and after treatment (p<0.05). The 11β-HSD2 mRNA levels were lower in the acute phase than in the normal group (p<0.01), and they were significantly higher after treatment than before (p<0.01). Western blot results were consistent with the real-time PCR results. The coronary artery lesion group exhibited significantly different 11β-HSD2 expression levels from that of the group with normal coronary arteries (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: GR and 11β-HSD expression changes in the acute phase of KD are important factors for regulating inflammatory responses in KD.

SGK1-induced imbalance of T lymphocyte subsets in childhood asthma / 国际儿科学杂志

Objective To study the expression of SGK1 in T lymphocytes from pediatric asthma,and the effect of SGK1 on the differentiation of T cells,also to explore the function of SGK1 regulating the differen-tiation of T subset in pediatric asthma. Methods Twenty-eight children with asthma were recruited in Xi′an children′s hospital and divided into moderate group and severe group according to diagnostic guideline of asth-ma. The serum levels of IL-4,IL-13 and IL-17A were analyzed by ELISA. The CD4 +T cells from PBMC and na?ve T cells were selected using magnetic beads. Na?ve T cells were differentiated in vitro under cytokines. SGK1 expression were analyzed with Real-time PCR. The ability of Th2 and Th17 on secreting IL-4 and IL-17A were detected after SGK1 was inhibited by siRNA. In vivo,shRNA-SGK1 Na?ve T cells were transferred into the mice asthma models by intravenous injection. The airway inflammation were observed in shRNA-SGK1 Na?ve T models. Results Compared with healthy children,the serum levels of IL-4、IL-13 and IL-17A increased signifi-cantly in the children with asthma. Importantly,the levels of these three cytokines were much higher with the de-velopment of asthma. SGK1 were up-regulated remarkably in CD4 +T cells from the children with asthma and were positively correlated with IL-13 and IL-17A. Besides,SGK1 expression increased in the differentiated Th2 and Th17 in vitro,but had no change in the differentiated Th1. The levels of IL-4 and IL-17A associated with Th2 and Th17 decreased after SGK1 was inhibited by siRNA. Similarly,In vivo,the serum levels of IL-13 and IL-17A and airway inflammation were reduced in shRNA-SGK1 Na?ve T models. Conclusion The over-expres-sion of SGK1 in pediatric asthma enhances the asthma progress by promoting the differentiation of T subsets.