[Expression of Th1, Th2-typed cytokines and its significance in nasal polyps].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the possible role of cytokines in pathophysiology and treatment of nasal polyps.


METHODS
The expressions of Th1-typed cytokines IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-12 and Th2-typed cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13 were investigated with enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay(ELISA) in 25 patients with nasal polyps.


RESULTS
There was a significant upregulation of Th2-typed cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13 in nasal polyps compared with normal nasal mucosa, especially IL-4 and IL-5 (3.9 times and 8.8 times higher than normal mucous respectively) while the expression of Th1-typed cytokines IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-12 decreased after treated with local glucocorticoid. The levels of Th2-typed cytokines decreased significantly and Th1-typed cytokines had no obvious change.


CONCLUSIONS
The upregulation of Th2-typed cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 may play an important role in the pathophysiology of nasal polyps and Th2-typed cytokines can be viewed as a target of treatment to nasal polyps.
Li
H
H
Department of Otolaryngology, Third Hospital of Sun-Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510630.
Xu
G
G
Li
Y
Y
Xie
M
M
Zhang
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000378:metabolism*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism
D007378:Interleukins; D007371:Interferon-gamma