Relationship between serum levels of interleukin-15,interleukin-21,IgE and the pathogenesis of urticaria

Abstract

Objective To study the relationship of serum levels of interleukin(IL)-15,IL-21 and IgE to the pathogenesis of urticaria.MethodsSerum levels of IL-15,IL-21 and IgE were detected with ELISA in 30 patients with chronic urticaria.30 patients with acute urticria and 30 sex-and age-matched normal human controls.Moreover,symptom scores and clinical course of patients were assessed.Results The serum levels of IL-15 and IL-21 were 1.59±0.73 pg/mL and 38.30±24.59 pg/mL respectively in patients with acute urticaria.2.35±0.87pg/mL and 47.67±29.57pg/mL respectively in those with chronic urticaria,4.98±4.46pg/mL and 64.94±25.37pg/mL respectively in the normal controls;the differenee was significant between these patients and controls.A significant increase was noted in the level of IgE in patients with acute urticaria and those with chronic urticaria compared with the controls(91.28±41.00 IU/mL vs 58.68±18.29IU/mL.76.65±38.49IU/mL vs 58.68±18.29IU/mL,P＜0.01,0.05respectively).No significant difierence was observed in the levels of IL-15,IL-21 or lgE between patients with acute urticaria and those with chronic urticaria(all P＞0.05).In patients with acute urticaria,the level Of IL-15 positively correlated with that of IL-21,but negatively correlated with clinical course of urticaria,while a negative correlation was observed between the levels of IL-15,IL-21 and the level of IgE,as well as between IL-21 level and symptom scores in patients with chronic urticaria.Conclusions The decrease in serum level of IL-15 and IL-2l may weaken the inhibition of IgE secretion,which seems to be associated with the pathogenesis of urticaria. Key words: Urticaria ; Interleukin-15 ; Interleukin-21 ; Inmmnoglobulin E ;