title: The balance shift in Th1/Th2 related IL-12/IL-5 cytokines in Graves' disease during methimazole therapy.
abstract: Th1 and Th2-like cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of Graves' disease. The shift in balance in IL-12/IL-5 cytokines was applied in judging the immunological events in 74 patients with Graves' disease (50 had ophthalmopathy) during methimazole therapy and in 15 controls. The serum levels of IL-12 and IL-5 were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in all Graves' patients. Twelve cases for IL-5 and 20 cases for IL-12 were positive. In Graves' patients only those without ophthalmopathy had higher levels of IL-12 when compared to controls (192.66 +/- 29.19 vs. 85.09 +/- 8.95 pg/ml, P < 0.04). After 2 months of methimazole therapy in Graves' patients without ophthalmopathy an increase in the ratio of IL-12 to IL-5 was also observed as compared to those with eye symptoms (91.78 +/- 34.14 vs. 20.72 +/- 6.36, P < 0.015). Age-related difference in the serum level of IL-5 could be demonstrated between Graves' patients without and those with ophthalmopathy aged < or = 35 years (4.89 +/- 0.57 vs. 50.14 +/- 20.2 pg/ml, P < 0.002). No association was found among the serum levels of IL-5 or IL-12, thyroid hormones and TSH receptor antibodies. The results demonstrated a difference in the balance shift of IL-12/IL-5 between Graves' patients with and without ophthalmopathy. The increased ratio of IL-12 to IL-5 after methimazole therapy could be explained by the elevation of serum IL-12 due to methimazole therapy and the age-related decrease of serum IL-5.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Kenézy County and Teaching Hospital, Bartók Bu2-26, Debrecen, Hungary. molil@cablenet.hu
authors.forename: Ildikó
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Molnár
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D049970:Graves Ophthalmopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008713:Methimazole / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015848:Interleukin-5; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D018664:Interleukin-12; D008713:Methimazole