RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: A Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance with a predominance of Th2 cytokines has been suggested to be of pathogenic importance in Kimura's disease. METHODS: To evaluate the role of Th1/Th2 cytokines in Kimura's disease, the subsets of Th1, Th2, Tc1 and Tc2 cells from patients with Kimura's disease were examined by intracellular cytokine flow cytometry. The expressions of IL-5, eotaxin and RANTES in the lesions were investigated by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The population of Th2 and Tc1 cells in Kimura's disease was significantly increased compared with these cells in control (p<0.05). Th1 and Tc2 cells in Kimura's disease were not significantly increased compared with control subjects. The titers of IgE and the number of Th2 cells were correlated. The expression of IL-5 and RANES was observed in the lesions of patients with Kimura's disease. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the predominance of Th2 and Tc1 cells might contribute to the mechanism in pathogenesis of Kimura's disease.
