ASSESSMENT OF INFLAMMATION MARKERS IN ASTHMA
Abstract:
Background and purpose: The airway inflammation defining asthma is regulated by a network
of interacting cytokines. The functional role of each individual cytokine in the immunopathogenesis of
the disease remains controversial. Allergic diseases are based on to Th2 immune responses, which are
characterized by high levels of proinflammatory interleukin (IL) IL-4, and a defective interferon-gamma
(IFNγ) production, the principal Th1 effector cytokine. Materials and methods: I studied serum markers
of allergic inflammation in 136 pediatric patients with wheezing and especially asthma (IL-4, IFNγ,
serum eosinophils and total IgE), using commercially available ELISA kits. Results: I found an
imbalance between serum levels of pro and antiinflamatory cytokines: higher levels of IL-4, in contrast
with a lower production of IFNγ. Conclusions: The findings are relevant; the serum level of IL-4 may be
elevated in contrast with decreased level of IFNγ in asthma. Determination of serum levels of IL-4 and
IFNγ and correlations between them may be helpful for understanding the immunological mechanism in
asthma.
![]() |
full text article in English (.EN) |