Study on the correlation between intestinal flora and cytokines in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura

The pathogenesis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is complex. It is currently believed that the development of HSP involves abnormalities in humoral immunity and cellular immunity. The intestinal microbiota has a powerful regulatory effect on the human immune system and has been shown to serve a significant role in the pathogenesis of various immune-mediated disorders. This study examines changes in intestinal flora and cytokines(IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-17) in children with HSP and explores their correlation, offering fresh insights for the prevention and treatment of HSP.

Blood and stool specimens were collected from 25 healthy children (control group) and 27 children with HSP (observation group). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the levels of cytokines IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-17, and IL-10 in the serum of all the study participants, and the 16S rRNA gene sequencing combined with high-throughput sequencing technology was used to analyze the intestinal flora of the study subjects. Finally, the correlation between serum cytokines and gut microbiota was analyzed in the children with HSP.

1)The serum levels of IL-4 and IL-17 in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, while the levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 were lower than those in the control group. 2) At the level of phylum, the abundance of Fusobacteria and Verrucomicrobia was higher than that in the control group, while the abundance of Firmicutes was lower than that of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05); At the level of genus, the abundance of Prevotella and Akkermansia were higher than the control group, while the abundance of Bifidobacterium, Blautia, and Clostridium XlVa was lower than that in the control group, and the differences were all statistically significant (P < 0.05); At the species level, the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, Prevotella copri, and Subdoligranulum variabile was higher than that of the control group, while the abundance of Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, Brautella Weiss, and Bacteroides fragilis was lower than that in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). 3) The abundance of Blautia and Blautia wexlerae in the observation group was positively associated with the IL-10 level (r = 0.522, r = 0.578, P < 0.01).

Disturbances in intestinal flora and changes in serum cytokines IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-17 were present in children with HSP. The abundance of Blautia and Blautia wexlerae in the gut microbiota of children with HSP was positively correlated with serum IL-10 levels.