The effect of vitamin A on secretion of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in A549 cells induced by Mycoplasma pneumoniae / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

In order to investigate the effect of vitamin A (VA) on the secretion of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in Mycoplasma Pneumoniae (MP)-induced A549 cells, A549 cells were co-cultured with MP for different time lengths and then the levels of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in the cell culture supernatants were detected before and after treatment with different concentrations of VA by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that the level of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in the supernatants of MP-induced A549 cells was much higher than that in non-induced cells (P<0.01). After application of VA, IL-4 level was not increased until the concentration of VA was up to 0.5x10(-5) mol/L (P<0.01). However, with concentration of VA increased up to 1x10(-4) mol/L, IL-4 was significantly suppressed (P<0.01). It was concluded that MP could induce the secretion of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in A549 cells. VA could inhibit the secretion of IFN-gamma and increase the IL-4 level in MP-induced A549 cells. However, high concentration of VA had an inhibitory effect on the secretion of IL-4 as well as on the IFN-gamma. These data provided a theoretical basis for the application of VA in MP pneumonia in the clinical practice.

Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Pediatric Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia and Pleural Effusion

This study investigated the serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in children with community-acquired pneumonia. Serum VEGF levels were measured in patients with pneumonia (n=29) and in control subjects (n=27) by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The pneumonia group was classified into bronchopneumonia with pleural effusion (n=1), bronchopneumonia without pleural effusion (n=15), lobar pneumonia with pleural effusion (n=4), and lobar pneumonia without pleural effusion (n=9) groups based on the findings of chest radiographs. We also measured serum IL-6 levels and the other acute inflammatory parameters. Serum levels of VEGF in children with pneumonia were significantly higher than those in control subjects (p<0.01). Children with lobar pneumonia with or without effusion showed significantly higher levels of serum VEGF than children with bronchopneumonia. For lobar pneumonia, children with pleural effusion showed higher levels of VEGF than those without pleural effusion. Children with a positive urinary S. pneumonia antigen test also showed higher levels of VEGF than those with a negative result. Serum IL-6 levels did not show significant differences between children with pneumonia and control subjects. Serum levels of VEGF showed a positive correlation with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the children with pneumonia. In conclusion, VEGF may be one of the key mediators that lead to lobar pneumonia and parapneumonic effusion.

Neumonía por mycoplasma pneumoniae en el Hospital de La Misericordia

Se realizó un estudio prospectivo, durante un año, en el Hospital Pediátrico Universitario de La Misericordia, con el propósito de diagnosticar pacientes con neumonía por Mycoplasma pneumoniae y determinar las características clínicas y paraclínicas más destacadas. Se incluyeron 48 pacientes de 2 a 15 años de edad, con infección respiratoria baja demostrada por radiografía de tórax, y con compromiso de lóbulos inferiores. De todos los pacientes se obtuvo una muestra nasofaríngea para cultivo, en medios bifásico y sólido específicos para Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Los paraclínicos realizados fueron cuadro hemático, VSG, reticulocitos, Coombs y crioaglutininas. De los 48 pacientes estudiados, en seis se aisló Mycoplasma pneumoniae, la edad promedio fue 5,8 años y al relacionar los datos clínicos se encontró que todos presentaron fiebre, tos y ala auscultación pulmonar se encontraron signos de broncoobstrucción; el 83 por ciento presentó malestar general, 67 por ciento síntomas gastrointestinales, 33 por ciento cefalea. En la radiografía de tórax el 67 por ciento presentó infiltrados mixtos; el cuadro hemático no presentó datos relevantes, sólo un paciente tenía anemia y dos trombocitosis. Las crioaglutininas fueron positivas en el 80 por ciento. En los casos negativos, el malestar general se presentó en el 64 por ciento, síntomas gastrointestinales en 43 por ciento, signos de broncoobstrucción en 19 por ciento y signos de condensación en 62 por ciento. En la radiografía de tórax predominó la condensación neumónica, las crioaglutininas en este grupo fueron positivas en el 39 por ciento de los pacientes. Concluimos que todo paciente de dos a 15 años de edad con neumonía o bronconeumonía que comprometa lóbulos inferiores, signos de broncoobstrucción y crioaglutininas con título único mayor o igual a 1:128, debe ser considerado el Mycoplasma pneumoniae como posible agente etiológico.