Age-dependent decrease in serum soluble interferon-gamma receptor (sIFN-gammaR) in healthy Japanese individuals; population study of serum sIFN-gammaR level in Japanese.

We planned to investigate the clinical significance of serum soluble interferon-gamma receptor (sIFN-gammaR) level in pediatric patients. The diagnostic application of the measurement of serum sIFN-gammaR level depends critically on the control value. However, there is no information of the control value of serum sIFN-gammaR for children. In the present study, we determined the serum sIFN-gammaR level of healthy Japanese children using an ELISA. The serum sIFN-gammaR level of children (0-14 years old) was significantly higher than that of adults (over 15 years old) (p < 0.01, n = 104). Thus, it is recommended that, when the serum sIFN-gammaR level of patients is evaluated, it should be compared against age-matched controls. We also preliminarily applied this assay as a diagnostic parameter for the patients with diarrhea positive (D+) hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).