Role of some cytokines in atopic asthma

This study included twenty patients with atopic asthma classified into two groups: Group I in which FEV and PEFR or FEV1/FVC was 80-60% of predicted and Group II in which FEV1 and PEER or FEV1/FVC was less than 60% of predicted. Determination of serum level of total IgE, IL4 and IFN-gamma by ELISA technique was done firstly during the asthmatic attack and then when the patients became stable [in between the attacks]. Ten apparently healthy individuals matched for age and sex with the patient groups were recruited as a control group and the same serum level determinations were done for every one. The results have shown a significant increase of total IgE and IL4 in both patient groups in more stable condition than the control group. IL4 showed a highly significant increase in both patient groups during the attacks than in between the attacks, while IgE was significantly increased only in group II. On the other hand, IFN-gamma showed a highly significant decrease in both patient groups during the attacks than in between the attacks. The correlation of IgE, IL4 and IFN-gamma with FEV1 was significant only for IL4. However, the ratio of IL4/IFN- gamma to FEV1 showed a highly significant correlation either during the attacks or in between the attacks