Study on level and significance of interleukin-10 and interferon-γ secreted by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with Behcet′s disease

Objective To investigate interleukin-10(IL-10,Th2-type cytokine) and interferon-gamma(IFN-γ,Th1-type cytokine) secreting capacity by peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) in 45 inpatients with Behcet′s disease(BD)and 10 healthy individuals,and try to understand the role of Th1/Th2 balance in the pathogenesis of BD.Methods Sandwich ELISA was used to measure IL-10 and IFN-γ level in the supernatant of culture from PBMCs.Results The level of IL-10 produced spontaneously by PBMCs in active stage was significantly higher than that in static phase and healthy person(P0.01).There are significant difference between active and inactive patients(P0.01).The IFN-γ level was not statistically different between BD patients and controls(P0.05).Conclusion IL-10 may play a significant role in the pathogenesis and disease activity of BD.