Clinical significance of the serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective To investigate the changes and clinical significance of serum levels of interferon-γ( IFN-γ),interleukin-6 ( IL-6 ),IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods The serum was sampled and prepared from 100 cases of COPD (exacerbation group 50 cases,remission group 50 cases)patients and 30 healthy persons.The serum levels of IFN-γ,IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-αt were detected by ELISA.Results Serum levels of IFN-γ,IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α in the cases of COPD with stable stage and the period of AECOPD were higher than those in the healthy cases (P ＜ 0.05).Serum levels of IFN-γ,IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α in the period of AECOPD were higher than those in the cases of COPD with stable stage ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions IFN-γ,IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α participated in the pathogenesis of COPD.Monitoring the changes of their serum levels is helpful for the management of the disease,and probably can be a prognostic factor of COPD. Key words: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;  Interferon-γ;  Interleukin-6 ;  Interleukin-8 ; Tumor necrosis factor-α