Procalcitonin and Inflammatory Cytokines in Children with Asthma

European Journal of Inflammation

Allergy and Inflammation

M. Hatzistilianou¹  A. Reklity¹  C. Aggouridaki²  K. Haidopoulou³  C. Magnisali³  S.T. Karamperis³  M. Emporiadou³ 

[1] 2 Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece;Laboratory of General Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece;4 Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece;

关键词: asthma;    childhood;    cytokines;    procalcitonin;    C-reactive protein;   

DOI  :  10.1177/1721727X0500300204

 received in 2004-07-13, accepted in 2005-04-18,  发布年份 2005

来源: Sage Journals

【 摘 要 】

Asthma is currently defined as a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airway mucosa. The resulting inflammation of the airway mucosa shows signs of an acute as well as a more chronic type of inflammation. Cytokine-mediated interactions among the inflammatory cells may play a role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. The aim of this study is to assess inflammatory agents as markers of chronic inflammation in childhood asthma and as indicators for determining the state of the disease. This study included 3 groups of children. Group A consisted of 35 children with asthma and FEV1<80% of predicted values, 24 boys, 11 girls, aged (mean age ± SE) 9.3 ± 0.4 years, Group B of 70 children with asthma and FEV1≥80% of predicted values, 44 boys, 26 girls, aged 8.65 ± 0.36 years and Group C of 48 healthy children, 33 boys, 15 girls, aged 10.73 ± 0.4 years. In serum, levels of PCT were determined by immunoluminescence, CRP by nephelometry and cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-4 and IL-5 by ELISA. Our results show that the mean concentration of CRP and PCT were not significantly different between groups A, B and C. The mean values of IL-1β were significantly different between groups A, B and C. The mean values of IL-6 were higher in group A than those of Groups B and C, although the difference between the groups was not statistically significant. The mean values of Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-5 were significantly different between groups A, B and C. In conclusion, CRP and PCT levels did not play any role in airway allergic inflammation, while strong indications were found that sera levels of inflammatory cytokines associated mainly with Th2 responses play a key role in airway allergic inflammation.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
© 2005 SAGE Publications