[Detection of serum Th1 and Th2 cytokines and its significance in neonates with cytomegalovirus pneumonia].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate changes in the levels of Th2 cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4), Th1 cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and TNF-alpha in serum of newborn infants with cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia.


METHODS
Twenty-five neonatal cases who were positive for serum IgM antibody to CMV by ELISA were divided into IVIG intervention group and ganciclovir intervention group, and 15 healthy neonates were enrolled into the control group. The levels of IL-4, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha were detected by using double antibody ELISA for the control group and the intervention groups at the beginning and end of treatment.


RESULTS
The levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in patients with CMV pneumonia were higher than that in the healthy neonates, while the levels of IL-4 were lower(t= 2.65 and 3.16, p less than 0.05). The level of IL-4 in patients with CMV pneumonia was significantly lower than that of the healthy neonates (t= 2.49, p less than 0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of IFN-gamma, IL-4 and TNF-alpha between IVIG intervention group and ganciclovir intervention group at the beginning of treatment (t= 1.85, 1.71, 1.76, p greater than 0.05). In IVIG intervention group, the levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha significantly decreased after treatment (t=3.98, 5.16, p less than 0.01), the level of IL-4 in this group was higher than that before treatment (t= 2.55, p less than 0.05). In ganciclovir group, the level of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha did not change after treatment (t=1.75, 1.16, p greater than 0.05), the level of IL-4 in this group was higher than that before treatment (t= 2.39, p less than 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
There seems to be an imbalance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines secretion in the infants with CMV pneumonia and, which may lead to immune-inflammation injury. IVIG can regulate imbalanced Th1/Th2 activities, therefore, immunomodulatory treatment should be applied besides antiviral therapy.
Chen
Zhuang-gui
ZG
Department of Pediatrics, The 3rd Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yet-set University, Guangzhou 510630, China.
Ji
Jing-zhi
JZ
Li
Ming
M
Chen
Yan-feng
YF
Chen
Fen-hua
FH
Chen
Hong
H
Bu
Jun
J
Sun
Jian-hua
JH
D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D016207:Cytokines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma