ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of IL-21,IL-23 and IL-4 in the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barré syndrome(GBS) of children,and to analyze the influence of intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) on the serum levels of IL-21,IL-23 and IL-4 in GBS patients.Methods Forty-one pediatric patients with GBS hospitalized in our department from Jan.2005 to Sep.2012 were studied.According to the time of IVIG administration,patients were divided into group A and group B,given IVIG respectively within the 7th day and the 8th-12th day.According to Hughes score,patients were divided into mild group and severe group.The serum levels of IL-21,IL-23 and IL-4 were detected by means of ELISA before and after treatment.Results Before treatment,the serum levels of IL-21,IL-23 and IL-4 had no signifiant difference between group A and group B.After treatment,the serum levels of IL-21,IL-23 in group A and group B were significantly decreased than those before treatment (all P ＜ 0.05),with no significant difference in IL-4 levels.There was no signifiant difference in group A and group B in the serum levels of IL-21,IL-23 and IL-4 after treatment (all P ＞0.05).In the severe group,the serum levels of IL-21,IL-23 were significantly higher than those in the mild group before and after treatment (all P ＜ 0.05),with no significant difference in IL-4 levels.After treatment,the serum levels of IL-21,IL-23 were significantly decreased than those before treatment in the mild group and the severe group (all P ＜ 0.05),with no significant difference in IL-4 levels.Conclusions The serum levels of IL-21,IL-23 are significantly increased in GBS children,indicating they play an important role in the pathogenesis of GBS.Levels of IL-21 and IL-23 are significantly decreased after administration of IVIG,which showed that IVIG could inhibit the secretion of IL21 and IL-23,reduce cellular inflammatory response,and eventually prevent the development of GBS.IL-4 secretion is not obviously affected with IVIG,it might have a role in the recovery of GBS.