The effects of glucocorticoid on sera IL-12,IL-13 and IgE in infants with asthma

Objective: To observe the changes of sera IL-1, IL-13 and IgE in asthmatic infants and to evaluate the influence of glucocorticoid on them. Methods: The serum samples were obtained from (1)patients with asthma before and after one week course of oral prednisone;(2) The sera IL-12, IL-13 and IgE were determined with standwich ELISA in all experimental objects. Results: (1)Serum level of IL-12 in asthma group was significantly lower than that after treatment and in normal control group (P0.05); (2)in asthma group IL-13 level was significantly higher than that after treatment and in normal control group (P0.05); and (3) in asthma group IgE level was significantly higher than that after treatment and in normal control group (P0.05). Conclusion: The secretion of IL-12 and IL-13 was impaired in asthma with a significant decrease in serum level of IL-12 and increase in serum level of IL-13. Glucocorticoid could up regulate the serum level of IL-12, down regulate the serum level of IL-13,and redress the imbalance of IL-12/IL-13.