[Effect of corticosteroids on the balance of Th cytokines in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the levels of Th cell-derived cytokines and the effect of corticosteroids on the balance of Th1/Th2 cytokines in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


METHODS
Fifty-eight SLE patients were treated with corticosteroids. Their IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 levels were detected by ELISA before and after the treatment with corticosteroids respectively; and the SLEDAI scores of the patients were compared before and after the treatment.


RESULTS
Before the treatment, the serum levels of IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 were higher than those of the healthy controls (P < 0.05). After the treatment with corticosteroids, the elevated levels of IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 in the SLE patients were all significantly reduced than those before the treatment (P < 0.05). At the same time, the SLEDAI scores were significantly lower than those before the treatment (P < 0.01). The serum level of IFN-gamma was significantly decreased in the patients with SLE compared with the healthy controls (P < 0.05). By contrast, the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 of the patients with SLE were significantly increased compared with the healthy controls (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Corticosteroids may induce a shift from the Th1 to Th2 profile of cytokine secretion. This may be one aspect of the mechanisms for corticosteroids treatment.
Xie
Hong-fu
HF
Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
Li
Jie
J
Shi
Wei
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011241:Prednisone