The effect of glucocorticoids on TH1/TH2 in asthma

Objective:To observe the changes of serum interleukin(IL)12,IL 13 and IgE in infant with asthma and to evaluate the influence of glucocorticoid on them.Methods:The serum samples were obtained from(1) Patients with asthma before and after five-seven days course of oral prednisone;(2) Healthy volunteers serum IL 12,IL13 and IgE were determined with sandwich ELISA in all patients.Results:(1)Serum level of IL12 in asthma group was significantly lower than that after treatment and normal control group(P0.01);(2)in asthma group IL 13 level was significantly higher than that after treatment and normal control group(P0.01);(3)Serum level of IgE in asthma group was significantly higher than that after treatment and normal control group(P0.01);(4)Correlation analysis showed that the serum level of IL12 was negatively correlated to serum level of IL 13 and IgE;the serum level of IL13 was positively correlated to IgE.Conclusion:The secretion of IL12 and IL 13 was impaired in asthma with a significant increase in serum level of IL 13 and decrease in serum level of IL12.Glucocorticoid could down regulate the serum level of IL13 and up regulate the serum level of IL12,redress the imbalance of IL 12/IL 13.