Changes of IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 levels in rat serum and lung during acute respiratory distress syndrome induced by oleic acid

AIM: To observe the dynamic changes of interleukin-4(IL-4),IL-10,IL-12 in rat serum and lung tissues during acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: The ARDS model of rats was induced by intravenous injection of oleic acid. The levels of IL-4 ,IL-10,IL-12 in serum and the supernatant of lung tissues were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The Levels of serum and lung IL-10,IL-12 in ARDS rats were increased in 4 h ,8 h,16 h group compared with control group . The levels in IL-10 in serum in 16 h group and IL-10 in lung tissues of 8 h group were lower than that in 4 h group. The Levels of IL-4 in serum in 4 h, 8 h group were higher than that in control group , while IL-4 in 16 h group was lower than that in 8 h group. IL-4 of lung tissues in 4 h,8 h,16 h group were increased significantly,but in 16 h group were lower than that in 8 h group. The biggest changes of pulmonary coefficient and histopathology were observed at 4 h after injection of oleic acid. CONCLUSIONS: IL-4,IL-10 and IL-12 might play important roles in inflammatory reaction induced by oleic acid. The pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines produced successively during ARDS. The relationship between unbalanced cytokines and lung injury in ARDS needs to be further studied.