Human Beta-Defensin 2 in Children with IgA Vasculitis: A Potential Link Between Innate Immunity and Vascular Inflammation

Immunoglobulin A vasculitis is the most common systemic vasculitis in children, typically presenting with palpable purpura along with gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, or genitourinary involvement. Human Beta Defensin-2, is the first inducible antimicrobial peptide identified in humans and is mainly synthesized by epithelial cells of the skin, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract and its levels increase in inflammation. Because Human Beta Defensin-2 is an inflammation-induced peptide, we aimed to investigate its potential role in immunglobulin A vasculitis. Serum Human Beta Defensin-2 levels were measured using a ELISA kit according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Serum Human Beta Defensin-2 levels were significantly higher in the immunglobulin A vasculitis group than healthy controls (p = 0.005). Among patients with immunglobulin A vasculitis, Human Beta Defensin-2 levels were higher in those who are 10 years or older (p = 0.008), with normal acute phase reactant levels (p = 0.015), and higher in who had spontaneous disease onset (p = 0.015). This study indicated that serum Human Beta Defensin-2 levels were significantly higher in children with IgA vasculitis compared to healthy controls. Considering being a inflammation-triggered molecule, it’s interesting that human beta defensin-2 levels were higher in patients with normal acute phase reactant levels, That elevation pattern suggests that Human Beta Defensin-2 may reflect a disease-specific immune response and could serve as a complementary biomarker in immunglobulin A vasculitis.