Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Single-cell Analysis of Immunophenotype and Cytokine Production in Peripheral Whole Blood via Mass Cytometry
Published on: June 26, 2018
[Interleukin-18 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in children with steroid-resistant nephrotic
Hong-Kun Jiang1, Gang Luo, Hong Jiang
1Department of Pediatrics, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Objective:
To examine serum concentration of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and IL-18 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in children with primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS) and explore the possible role of IL-18 in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS).
Methods:
Sixty-six children with newly diagnosed PNS, including 39 cases of steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) and 27 cases of SRNS, were enrolled. Forty healthy children were used as a normal control group. Blood samples were collected before and 8 weeks after glucocorticoid treatment. Serum concentration of IL-18 was measured using ELISA. IL-18 mRNA expression in PBMCs was detected by the RT-PCR method. The amount of 24-hr urine protein was measured by the biuret method. Serum contents of total cholesterol (T-Ch), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), total protein (TP), and albumin (Alb) were measured by the automatic biochemistry analyzer.
Results:
Serum concentration of IL-18 and IL-18 mRNA expression in PBMCs in the SSNS and the SRNS groups were significantly higher than those in the normal control group before treatment (P< 0.05). The SRNS group had increased serum protein concentration of IL-18 and IL-18 mRNA expression in PBMCs compared with the SSNS group before treatment (P< 0.05). Serum LDL content in the SRNS group was also significantly higher than that in the SSNS group before treatment (P< 0.05). After treatment, serum concentration of IL-18 and IL-18 mRNA expression in PBMCs in the SRNS group were significantly higher than those in the SSNS and the normal control groups (P< 0.05). Serum concentration of IL-18 and IL-18 mRNA expression in PBMCs in the SSNS group were significantly reduced after treatment, but the alterations of IL-18 were not observed in the SRNS group after treatment.
Conclusions:
SRNS was associated with increased serum IL-18 concentration and IL-18 mRNA expression in PBMCs. Over-production of IL-18 may play a role in the development of SRNS.
Related Concept Videos
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Nephrotic Syndrome II : Assessment and Medical Management
Nephrotic Syndrome I : Introduction
