Elevated cytokine levels associated with acute kidney injury due to wasp sting

Objective: This study mainly to explore the change of serum cytokines in wasp sting patients and the potential correlation between cytokines and acute kidney injury (AKI) due to wasp stings. Methods: The levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma in 33 wasp sting and 24 healthy people were measured by flow cytometry, the level of IL-17 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the laboratory examination including inflammatory indicators, muscle enzyme markers, and renal function were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer, blood analyzer, and urine analyzer. The wasp sting patients were divided into AKI (n = 10) and non-AKI groups (n = 23). The correlation between the levels of serum cytokines and laboratory examination results was analyzed. Results: The levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-gamma, and IL-17 were statistically increased in wasp sting patients compared with the controls (P < 0.05). IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 levels were markedly increased in the AKI group compared with the non-AKI group (P < 0.05). Moreover, compared with non-AKI group, inflammatory markers and muscle enzyme markers were more abnormal in the AKI group. The positive rate of urinary occult blood in the AKI group was higher than that in the non-AKI group. The levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IFN-gamma, and IL-17 correlated positively with white blood cell counts. The levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IFN-gamma, and IL-17 correlated positively with the levels of serum creatinine. The levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-10, and IFN-gamma correlated positively with the levels of C-reactive protein. The levels of IL-10, and IFN-gamma correlated positively with urinary occult blood. Conclusion: Elevated levels of cytokines in wasp sting patients might be involved in the development and progression of acute kidney injury.