title: [Levels of nerve growth factor and interleukin-4 in the induced sputum of children with cough variant asthma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the induced sputum of children with cough variant asthma (CVA), with the aim of studying the roles of NGF and IL-4 in childhood CVA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four children with CVA were enrolled in this study. Twenty healthy children were used as a normal control group. The induced sputum was separated into supernatant and cells. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to count differential cells. The expression of NGF and IL-4 in supernatant was measured using ELISA. The mRNA expression of NGF and IL-4 in cells was determined by Real-time PCR analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of eosinophils in the CVA group was significantly higher than in the control group [(13.4±3.6)% vs (2.6±1.7)%; P<0.01]. The expression of NGF and IL-4 protein and mRNA in induced sputum was significantly higher in the CVA group than in the control group (P<0.05). The expression of NGF and IL-4 protein and mRNA was positively correlated with the percentage of eosinophils (P<0.01). The expression of NGF and IL-4 protein and mRNA in induced sputum was significantly reduced in the CVA group after treatment (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eosinophils infiltration and increased expression of NGF and IL-4 play key roles in the development of childhood CVA, suggesting that they may be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood CVA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Yanbian University, Yanbian, Jilin, China. lihongzi1972@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hong-Zi
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zheng-Yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Xi-Zhe
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Chun-Ji
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013183:Sputum / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C508598:IL4 protein, human; D015847:Interleukin-4; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor