Plasma Concentration of Osteopontin (OPN) in Children with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Relationship with Disease Activity

Abstract

Osteopontin (OPN) is an important bone matrix mediator found to have key roles in inflammation and immunity. OPN is a cytokine which can play a number of roles in promoting activation of T lymphocyte, regulating balance between T-helper 1 and T-helper 2, participating in cell-induced immunologic response and stimulating B lym- phocyte to express multi-clone antibodies. Overexpression of OPN has been associated with the development of the auto- immune/ lymphoproliferative syndrome.