title: [Relationship between asthma and activated T-lymphocytes and interleukin-4].
abstract: Several studies have suggested that activated T-lymphocytes and its derived cytokines are involved in asthma pathogenesis. To investigate the role of activated T-lymphocytes and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in asthma pathogenesis, we measured soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and IgE concentrations in serum and production of IL-4 in situumlated peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures from asthmatics by means of ELISA. The results showed: (1) sIL-2R (512.82 x 10(3) +/- 264.62 x 10(3) U/L) and IL-4 (1,842.42 +/- 824.60 ng/L) levels in acute severe asthmatics were significantly higher than those of controls (242.32 x 10(3) +/- 108.64 x 10(3) U/L and 406.32 +/- 62.16 ng/L, P < 0.01); (2) there was a positive relationship between IL-4 and serum total IgE (r = 0.492); there was a significantly negative relationship between IL-4 and FEV1% (r = -0.821, P < 0.05); (3) after intravenous administration of dexamethasone (DXM) 5 mg daily for 5 days, sIL-2R and IL-4 decreased respectively to (332.61 x 10(3) +/- 124.62 x 10(3) U/L and 314.10 +/- 72.08 ng/L, P < 0.05). These data indicate that activated T-lymphocytes and its derived IL-4 play an important role in asthma pathogenesis and that the effect of steroid on the treatment of asthma is partly due to inhibition of activated T-lymphocytes and IL-4 release.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Department, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000473:pathology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D015847:Interleukin-4; D003907:Dexamethasone