Shimizu Chie, Matsumoto Koichi, Fujita Takayuki, Fuke Yoshinobu, Soma Masayoshi
Clin Lab. 2015;61(1-2):23-30. doi: 10.7754/clin.lab.2014.140515.
Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine which induces interferon-γ production and plays a crucial role in immune systems. IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) is a naturally occurring inhibitor of IL-18. The aim was to investigate the involvement of IL-18 and IL-18BP in IgA nephropathy (IgAN).
Serum samples from 21 IgAN patients and 16 idiopathic membranous nephropathy (MN) patients and 32 healthy controls were assayed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent method.
Compared to the controls, IgAN patients showed significantly higher levels of IL-18 and the increased IL-18/IL-18BP ratio. Despite IL-18 elevation, the levels of IL-18BP did not parallel the increase of IL-18, which resulted in an increased IL-18/IL-18BP ratio. Furthermore, the ratio in patients with renal vasculopathy was significantly increased compared to those without arteriolar lesions.
These findings provide the first evidence that there is an imbalance of IL-18/IL-18BP ratio in IgAN patients, which may be associated with the pathophysiology of renal vasculopathy.
白细胞介素-18（IL-18）是一种促炎细胞因子，可诱导γ干扰素生成，在免疫系统中起关键作用。IL-18结合蛋白（IL-18BP）是IL-18的天然抑制剂。本研究旨在探讨IL-18和IL-18BP在IgA肾病（IgAN）中的作用。
采用酶联免疫吸附法检测21例IgAN患者、16例特发性膜性肾病（MN）患者及32例健康对照者的血清样本。
与对照组相比，IgAN患者的IL-18水平显著升高，IL-18/IL-18BP比值增加。尽管IL-18升高，但IL-18BP水平并未与IL-18的升高同步，导致IL-18/IL-18BP比值增加。此外，与无小动脉病变的患者相比，有肾血管病变患者的该比值显著升高。
这些发现首次证明IgAN患者存在IL-18/IL-18BP比值失衡，这可能与肾血管病变的病理生理学有关。
