The study of relationship between lung function and IFN-γ, IL-4 levels in peripheral blood in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

Objective To explore the correlation of lung function and IFN-γ and IL-4 levels in peripheral blood in pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Methods The IFN-γ and IL-4 levels in peripheral blood of 75 pulmonary tuberculosis patients(severe 25 cases,moderate 25 casea,and mild 25 cases) and 30 healthy volunteers were measured by ELISA. Meanwhile FEV1 ,FEV1% and MMEF% of lung function in 75 pulmonary tuberculosis patients were measured.Results The levels of IFN-γ[(0. 204 ±0. 018) μg/L] and IL-4[(0. 523 ±0. 035) μg/L] in peripheral blood were significantly different both between tuberculosis group and control group and among tuberculosis patients ( severe,moderate,and mild) (t =7. 685,6. 374 ,all P ＜0. 05) ;FEV1 ,FEV1% ,and MMEF% of severe and moderate tuberculosis patients were significantly lower than those of mild tuberculosis patients and normal reference value; In tuberculosis patients, FEV1% and MMEF% were negatively related with IL-4 level in peripheral blood( r = -0. 46, -0. 43, all P ＜ 0. 05 ), also significantly positively related with the IFN-γ level in peripheral blood ( r = 0. 47,0. 45, all P ＜0. 05). Conclusion Pulmonary tuberculosis morbility may be due to cellular levels of patients. The IFN-γ and IL-4 levels in peripheral blood could affect the lung function of pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary;  Interferon-γ;  Interleukin-4;  Lung function