Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2025
Accurate and Simple Measurement of the Pro-inflammatory Cytokine IL-1β using a Whole Blood Stimulation Assay
Published on: March 1, 2011
Plasma interleukin-41 serves as a potential diagnostic biomarker for Kawasaki disease
Xiaohong Cai1, Kan Li2, Mingcai Li2
1Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; Department of Pediatrics, Ningbo Women and Children's Hospital, Ningbo 315012, China.
Introduction:
Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis that causes abnormalities in the coronary arteries. Interleukin (IL)-41 is a novel immunoregulatory cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of some inflammatory and immune-related diseases. However, the role of IL-41 in KD is unclear. The purpose of this study was to detect the expression of IL-41 in the plasma of children with KD and its relationship with the disease.
Methods:
A total of 44 children with KD and 37 healthy controls (HC) were recruited for this study. Plasma concentrations of IL-41 were determined by ELISA. Correlations between plasma IL-41 levels and KD-related clinical parameters were analyzed by Pearson correlation and multivariate linear regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to assess the clinical value of IL-41 in the diagnosis of KD.
Results:
Our results showed that plasma IL-41 levels were significantly elevated in children with KD compared with HC. Correlation analysis demonstrated that IL-41 levels were positively correlated with D-dimer and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, and negatively correlated with IgM, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, total protein, albumin and pre-albumin. Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that IgM and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations were associated with IL-41. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of IL-41 was 0.7101, with IL-41 providing 88.64 % sensitivity and 54.05 % specificity.
Conclusion:
Our study indicated that plasma IL-41 levels in children with KD were significantly higher than those in HC, and may provide a potential diagnostic biomarker for KD.
