Yan Ding1, Yang Zhou1, Hua-Rong Li2, Yue-Hua Xiong1, Wei Yin1, Lei Zhao3. 1. Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Wuhan Children's Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430016, China. 2. Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China. 3. Department of Infectious Disease, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China. leizhao@hust.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is still diagnosed using symptoms and signs together with some histopathological findings. The purpose of this study was to summarize the characteristics and roles of cellular and humoral immunity in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP). METHODS: A total of 502 cases of patients with acute HSP were diagnosed and observed. The levels of T lymphocyte subsets, natural killer cells (NK cells), and B cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The serum immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin A (IgA), and complement C3 (C3) and complement C4 (C4) levels were detected by velocity scatter turbidimetry. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy groups, the levels of cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3), cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4), B cells, and NK cells and ratio of CD4/CD8 in patients with HSP were decreased (P < 0.05). The levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, and C3 were increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the Kawasaki disease (KD) group, the levels of CD3, CD4, CD8, B cells, NK cells, and IgA in patients with HSP were increased (P < 0.05), and the ratio of CD4/CD8 and levels of IgM, C3, and C4 was decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the pneumonia group, the levels of CD3, CD4, B cells, and IgA in patients with HSP were increased (P < 0.05), and the ratio of CD4/CD8 and levels of IgM and C4 was decreased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Cellular immunity and humoral immunity were all involved in the pathogenesis of HSP. The decline of NK cells, B lymphocyte cells, CD3, CD4 the increased secretion of immunoglobulin, and the abnormal appearance of IgA and C3 may exist during the progression. It may indicate a worse prognosis and increasing the risk of dedifferentiation. Cellular immunity was lower, which lead to increased production of inflammatory mediators and increased secretion of immunoglobulin, which then mediated systemic small-vessel vasculitis. Key Points • The pathogenesis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) was not completely illuminated. • There was a lack of disease-specific laboratory abnormalities that can be used in the clinical diagnosis of HSP. • We compared the laboratory abnormalities in the immune system of HSP with KD and pneumonia. • Cellular immunity and humoral immunity were all involved in the pathogenesis of HSP. Cellular immunity was lower, which lead to the following pathological changes.
BACKGROUND: Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is still diagnosed using symptoms and signs together with some histopathological findings. The purpose of this study was to summarize the characteristics and roles of cellular and humoral immunity in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP). METHODS: A total of 502 cases of patients with acute HSP were diagnosed and observed. The levels of T lymphocyte subsets, natural killer cells (NK cells), and B cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The serum immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin A (IgA), and complement C3 (C3) and complement C4 (C4) levels were detected by velocity scatter turbidimetry. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy groups, the levels of cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3), cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4), B cells, and NK cells and ratio of CD4/CD8 in patients with HSP were decreased (P < 0.05). The levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, and C3 were increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the Kawasaki disease (KD) group, the levels of CD3, CD4, CD8, B cells, NK cells, and IgA in patients with HSP were increased (P < 0.05), and the ratio of CD4/CD8 and levels of IgM, C3, and C4 was decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the pneumonia group, the levels of CD3, CD4, B cells, and IgA in patients with HSP were increased (P < 0.05), and the ratio of CD4/CD8 and levels of IgM and C4 was decreased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Cellular immunity and humoral immunity were all involved in the pathogenesis of HSP. The decline of NK cells, B lymphocyte cells, CD3, CD4 the increased secretion of immunoglobulin, and the abnormal appearance of IgA and C3 may exist during the progression. It may indicate a worse prognosis and increasing the risk of dedifferentiation. Cellular immunity was lower, which lead to increased production of inflammatory mediators and increased secretion of immunoglobulin, which then mediated systemic small-vessel vasculitis. Key Points • The pathogenesis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) was not completely illuminated. • There was a lack of disease-specific laboratory abnormalities that can be used in the clinical diagnosis of HSP. • We compared the laboratory abnormalities in the immune system of HSP with KD and pneumonia. • Cellular immunity and humoral immunity were all involved in the pathogenesis of HSP. Cellular immunity was lower, which lead to the following pathological changes.