RESUMO
Various abnormalities of the immune system have been demonstrated in patients with chronic kidney disease [CKD]. Patients with CKD commonly present with abnormalities of immune function related with impaired kidney function and the accumulation of uremic toxins. Th1 and Th2 cells produce predominantly some cytokine profiles. The aim of the present study was the determination of the levels of IL-13 and IFN-gamma in sera of end-stage renal disease. The correlations of IL-13 and IFN-gamma levels with clinical presentation of the disease were assessed. In this case-control study the serum levels of IL-13 and IFN-gamma were determined by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 30 patients on hemodialysis [HD], 30 patients with chronic renal failure [CRF], and 60 healthy individuals. Renal function was evaluated by measuring serum levels of creatinin, albumin and urea. The serum levels of IL-13 and IFN-gamma were differed significantly between patients and healthy controls. The serum levels of IL-13 was significantly increased in the HD group than in the CRF and control groups [13.7 +/- 3.9, 6.7 +/- 3.4, 4.5 +/- 3.3 pg/ml, respectively] [P=0.001]. On the other hand, the IFN-gamma plasma levels were significantly higher in CRF patients than HD patients and controls [38.8 +/- 18.8, 17.4 +/- 8.78, 12.5 +/- 8.9 pg/ml, respectively]. In the HD patients, low production of IFN-gamma in line with upregulation of IL-13 indicates that Th1/Th2 balance may shift towards Th2 dominance. It is possible that this imbalance contributes to the abnormality of the immune system in HD patients