Interleukin - 2 in chronic bronchitis and the role of immunotherapy

ABSTRACT

This study was planned to determine the levels of interleukin-2 [IL-2] in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL] of patients with chronic bronchitis and to detect these levels after oral immunization using polyvalent bacterial extract, bronchovaxom [BV]. 10 patients [5 males and 5 females] with non-obstructive chronic bronchitis were included in the study with 10 healthy volunteers [5 males and 5 females]. The levels of IL-2 were measured in the serum and BAL of all patients and in the serum of the control group before and after BV. There was a significant difference between the IL-2 levels in BAL and in the serum of patients with chronic bronchitis before oral immunization. Also, there was a significant statistical increase in IL-2 levels in BAL of patients after BV compared with its levels before BV, while there was no significant change in the serum IL-2 level after BV administration. The study showed significant clinical improvement after oral immunization associated with significant improvement in the local bronchial immunity with no modifications in the systemic immunity