title: [Correlation of serum IL-16, IL-18 levels and immunoglobulins in children with asthma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the changes of serum levels of interleukin (IL)-16, IL-18 and immunoglobulins and the correlation of serum IL-16, IL-18 levels and immunoglobulins in children with asthma and aimed to explore the role of IL-16, IL-18 and immunoglobulins in the pathogenesis of asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four children with asthma and 21 age and gender-matched healthy children were enrolled in this study. The levels of IL-16, IL-18 and immunoglobulin E (IgE) were determined using ELISA. Immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) were detected by immunoturbidimetry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of IL-16, IL-18 and IgE in patients with asthma at both acute attack and convalescence stages were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. An increased IgG and a decreased IgA levels were found in asthmatic patients at the acute attack stage. There was a positive correlation between the IL-16 and IL-18 levels at both acute attack and convalescence stages of asthma (r=0.70, P < 0.01; r=0.70, P < 0.05). The IL-16 level correlated positively with the IgE level at acute attack stage of asthma (r=0.624, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-16, IL-18 and IgE may be involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. The immunologic imbalance exists in children with asthma at both acute attack and convalescence stages. Anti-allergic therapy should be administered through the acute attack to the convalescence stages of asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Changsha Center Hospital, Changsha 410007, China. xyn63@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Yi-Nan
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Xian-De
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Jia-Ling
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood*; D019410:Interleukin-16 / Q000097:blood*; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D019410:Interleukin-16; D020382:Interleukin-18