title: Serum levels of interleukins (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13, and interferon-gamma in acute asthma.
abstract: T-cell activation and alteration of cytokine levels are involved in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. However, the profile of circulating T-lymphocyte subsets and related cytokines during acute asthmatic attacks is still unclear. We hypothesized that serum levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 would be increased, whereas IFN-y would be decreased in acute asthma. The subjects enrolled in this study included 58 acute asthmatics, 22 asymptomatic asthmatics, and 10 healthy controls. Serum levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IFN-gamma were measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We correlated serum levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IFN-gamma with initial forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1). Compared with control subjects, acute asthmatics had significantly increased levels of circulating IL-4 (p < 0.001), IL-5 (p < 0.001), and IL-13 (p < 0.001), although the differences were of borderline significance in serum IFN-gamma (p = 0.069). There were also significant differences in the circulating levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 between acute asthmatics and asymptomatic asthmatics. There was no significant association between initial FEV1 and serum levels of IL-4 or IL-13, however, among acute asthmatics, a lower initial FEV1 was associated with higher IL-5 and/or lower IFN-gamma levels. Our results suggest that serum levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 may be elevated in acute asthma, and that higher levels of IL-5 and/or lower levels of IFN-gamma are associated with severe airway obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Chonju, South Korea. leeyc@moak.chonbuk.ac.kr
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Rhee
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000097:blood; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018793:Interleukin-13; D015848:Interleukin-5; D007378:Interleukins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma