ABSTRACT
AIM and METHODS: To study the immunological effect of measles vaccine therapy on asthmatic children, we examined the changes of interleukin-12 , interleukin-13 and total serum IgE levels in plasma and cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) supernatant by means of ELISA in 13 mild-moderate asthmatic children treated with measles vaccine. Results were compared with 12 anti-symptomatic treatment mild-moderate asthmatic children and 17 normal children control group. RESULTS:After measles vaccine treatment, IL-13 and total serum IgE levels decreased remarkably, statistically lower than that of group receiving only anti-symptomatic treatment. There was no statistical difference in IL-12 level between the two group. Correlation analysis: 1)IL-12 level of plasma was negatively correlated to the level of serum total IgE, there was no correlation of supernatant IL-12 in PBMC to the total serum IgE; 2)IL-13 levels in plasma and PBMC were positively correlated to the level of total serum IgE; 3) IL-12 level was negatively correlated to IL-13. CONCLUSION: Measles vaccine could down-regulate IL-13 level, therefore decrease total IgE synthesis, but not affect IL-12 level in asthmatic children.