Study Of The Functions Of T Helper Cell Subsets And The Levels Of Transforming Growth Factor-β₁ In Children With Schonlein-Henoch Purpura In Acute Phase

Objective To observe the functional states of T helper cells (Th) in peripheral blood and the levels of Transforming Growth Factor-betal (TGF-β1) in plasma in children with Schonlein-Henoch purpura (HSP) in acute phase, and to explore their role in the pathogenesis of HSP.Methods The levels of TGF- β1 in plasma were determined by ELISA in 38 children with HSP in acute phase and 16 normal children. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 20 HSP children were stimulated with PMA and ionomycin and cultured in vitro for 48 hours , the levels of Interleukin-4(IL-4), Interferon- y (IFN-γ ) and TGF-B1 in the supernatants of PBMC were detected by ELISA respectively.Results (1) After stimulation with PMA and ionomycin ,the levels of IFN- y and the ratio of IFN-γ /IL-4 of HSP children in acute phase produced by PBMC were significantly lower than those of the controls, respectively (t or t' =6.133, 5.717, P<0.01); the levels of IL-4 and TGF-B1 were markedly higher than those of the controls, respectively (t=6.548, 5.862, P<0.01); the levels of TGF-B1 in the supernatants of PBMC from HSP children had positive correlation with the levels of IFN-γ (r=0.500, P< 0.05)and IL-4(r=0.804 ,P< 0.01),but had negative correlation with the ratio of IFN-γ /IL-4(r=-0.457, P< 0.05). (2) The levels of TGF- B1 in plasma of HSP children in acute phase were significantly higher than those of the controls (t=5.646, P<0.01), and the plasma levels of TGF- B1 were positively correlated with the supernatants levels of TGF- B1 (r=0.654, P<0.05). (3) The supernatants levels of TGF- B1, IL-4, IFN-r and the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 of HSP children in acute phase had no difference between the patients with kidney damage and those without kidney damage, respectively (t=0.624-1.741, P>0.05), meanwhile no difference of the plasma levels of TGF-β1 were found between the patients with kidney damage and those without kidney damage (t=0. 212, P>0.05) .Conclusions The study showed that there was imbalance of Th1/ Th2 in HSP children, and the function of Th2 relatively prevailed over Th1; The protective or regulative action of Th3 in vivo increased, but the protective regulation of TGF-β1 were insufficient, so the imbalance of Th1/ Th2 was not corrected; The levels of TGF-β1, IL-4, IFN-γ in the supernatants and the plasma levels of TGF- B1 of HSP children in acute phase had no relationship with the damaged kidney.