Th1/Th2 immune response in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in children with severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.
- Author:
Yan-Meng KANG
1
;
Ming-Jie DING
;
Yu-Ling HAN
;
Shi-Fu WANG
;
Xiang MA
;
Hua LI
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Adolescent; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; immunology; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Interferon-gamma; blood; Interleukin-4; blood; Male; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma; immunology; Th1 Cells; immunology; Th2 Cells; immunology
- From: Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2011;13(3):188-190
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo study the status of Th1/Th2 immune response and the value of the detection of cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) by examining the levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in BALF and serum in children with severe Mycoplasma pneumonia (MPP).
METHODSThe levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in BALF and serum were measured using ELISA in 25 children with severe MPP, 25 children with mild MPP and 25 children with foreign body in bronchus.
RESULTSThe levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ and the IL-4/IFN-γ ratio in BALF in children with severe MPP were significantly higher than those in children with foreign body in bronchus (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The serum levels of IL-4 and the IL-4/IFN-γ ratio in children with severe MPP were significantly higher than those in children with foreign body in bronchus (P<0.01) or with mild MPP (P<0.05). The levels of IL-4 and the IL-4/IFN-γ ratio in BALF were significantly higher than in serum (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONSThe data suggest that the imbalance of Th1/Th2 exists in children with severe MPP and it seems to represent a predominant Th2-like cytokine response. The detection of cytokines in BALF appears to be more sensitive than in serum and may be of value in the diagnosis and therapy of MPP.
