ABSTRACT
Objective:To clarify the dynamics of Th2 related cytokines IL-4、IL-5 and the Treg T cell related cytokines TGF-β、IL-10 in children with primary steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome ( SSNS) from the nephrotic phase before steroid treatment to the re-mission phase.Methods:All 36 SSNS patients and 18 healthy controls matched for age , gender, body weight and height were enrolled , and their clinical characteristics were evaluated .Serum cytokine level was measured by ELISA assay .The serum levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-βwere compared and correlated with serum albumin and cholesterol .Re-sults:Serum IL-4 and IL-5 levels in SSNS of nephrotic phase were higher than serum IL-4 and IL-5 levels of SSNS of remission phase and the healthy control , respectively .The serum TGF-βlevels of the nephrotic phase were significantly lower than those of remission phase or control group , whereas the serum IL-10 levels showed no significant difference between nephrotic phase and remission phase of SSNS or control group.The serum IL-4 levels had a negative correlation with serum albumin (R2 =-0.694,P=0.000), and a posi-tive correlation with serum albumin levels (R2 =0.658,P=0.000), whereas the serum TGF-βlevels had a positive correlation with serum albumin (R2 =0.838,P=0.000), and a negative correlation with serum albumin levels , had (R2 =-0.722,P=0.000). Conclusion:This study indicates that IL-4, IL-5 and TGF-βlevel is related to the pathogenesis of pediatric SSNS .