Asthma patients′ secretion levels of interleukin-12,-13,-18 and effects of dexamethasone,interferon-γ on them

Objective To explore the effects of interleukin (IL) 12,IL 13 and IL 18 on Th1/Th2 cells activity in asthma patients and the effects of different drugs on them.Methods Venous blood from 30 asthma patients and 15 healthy subjects were isolated by density centrifugation with Ficoll Hypaque,peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained respectively and divided into three groups:control group,dexamethasone group and IFN  group, they were cultured together for 24 hours, the concentrations of IL 12, IL 13 and IL 18 in cultured PBMC were determined with ELISA.Results Insupernatantfluid, thelevelsof IL 12 and IL 18 in asthma group were remarkably higher than those in healthy one,but the level of IL 13 in asthma group was much lower than that in healthy one.There was significant difference in statistics (P0 05).After dexamethasone intervention in asthma group,levels of the three cytokines were much lower than those in control group (P0 05).After IFN γ intervention in asthma group,IL 12 was remarkably higher than that in control group (P0 05),but the levels of IL 13 and IL 18 showed not significant difference with control group (P0 05).Conclusions ①IL 18 is involved in the asthma process and plays an important role in affecting Th1/Th2 cells activity and cytokine production.②The combination of dexamethasone with IFN γ might be the best method to cure asthma.