Lymphocytes Apoptosis And SFas, SFasL Serum Levels Of Henoch-schonlein's Purpura In Acute Phase

Objective To study the apoptosis feature of peripheral blood lymphocytes and the relationship with sFas and sFasL serum levels in children with Henoch-Schonlein's pur-pura(HSP) in the acute phase.Methods The susceptibility to apoptosis of lymphocytes was determined in 33 children with HSP and 33 normal children by percentage calculation of apoptosis cells. The T lymphocyte subsets and percentage of CD^ cells were determined by immunofluos-cence procedure. Serum levels of sFas and sFasL were studied by enzyme-linked immno-absorbent assay.Result The apoptotic cell percentage of lymphocytes incubated for 0,48h in children with HSP were all very significantly higher than these in normal children (P < 0.01, P<0. 01). There were very significent increase in apoptosis cell percentage of lymphocytes in patients with kidney damaged than in patients without kidney complica-tion(P<0. 05). The percentage of CD4+ cell and the ratio of CD4+ /CD8+ cell were all very significantly lower than these in normal children(P<0. 01, P<0. 05). The percentage of CD+ cell and CDg" cell did not statistically differentiate between HSP patients and normal control(P>0. 05,P>0. 05). The percentage of CD^ cell incubated for 48h was significantly lower than that in normal children(P<0. 01). The apoptosis cell percentage of lymphocytes incubated for 48h had negative correlation with the percentage of CD?cell(r= -0. 61, P<0. 05). The serum levels of sFas and sFasL in HSP patients were increased significantly in contrast to the normal controls(P<0. 01,P<0. 01). But it was not different between the patients with kidney damaged and those without kidney complication(P>0. 05,P>0. 05). The apoptosis cell percentage of lymphocytes incubated for 48h had positive correlation with the raised serum level of sFasL(r=0. 69, P< 0. 05) , and had negative correlation with the raised serum level of sFas(r=-0. 58,P< 0.05).Conclusion Enhanced susceptibility to apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes and the raised serum levels of sFas, sFasL were found in children with HSP. It was closely related to the functional disorder of immunity in children with HSP. The raised serum level of sFasL might involve in accelerating apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes of the patients.