The Levels of Interleukin-10, Interleukin-12 and Interferon-y in Duodenal Mucosa and the Clin-ical Significance in Patients with Duodenal Ulcer

Background: Dysfunction of cellular immunity and humoral immunity always occur in patients with ulcerative diseases. Aims: To investigate the clinical significance of interleukin (IL)-10, ILL-12 and interferon (IFN)-y in duodenal mucosa in patients with duodenal ulcer (DU). Methods: Duodenal mucosal specimens were taken in patients with DU before and 4~6 weeks after the treatment with omeprazole, clarithromycin and tinidazole for one week. The levels of IL-10, IL-12 and IFN-y were de-termined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and compared with the controls. Results: Prior to the one-week triple therapy, the levels of IL-10, IL-12 and IFN-y were markedly increased in patients with DU (17.983 pg/ml±8.676 pg/ml, 44.098 pg/ml±12.842 pg/ml and 82.373 pg/ml±17.264 pg/ ml) than those in controls (8.599 pg/ml±4.147 pg/ml, 17.550 pg/ml±5?.980 pg/ml and 26.298 pg/ml±10.385 pg/ml, P0.01, respectively). A positive relationship between the IL-10 and IL-12 (r = 0.87, P 0.01) was observed, so was the relationship between IL-10 and IFN-y (r = 0.92, P0.01). After the treat-ment, the levels of IL-12 and IFN-y decreased (17.289 pg/ml±3?.939 pg/ml and 27.030 pg/ml ±3?.753 pg/ ml, P0.01, respectively), but the IL-10 remained at a higher level (26.098 pg/ml±?15.152 pg/ml, P 0.01). Conclusions: Cytokines IL-10, IL-12 and IFN-y may play important roles in DU. After one-week triple therapy, the secretions of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-12 and IFN-y were effectively re-stricted, in contrast, the contra-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 remained high for a period of time to build the favorable environment for mucosal reconstitution.