From the Departments of 1Pediatrics and 2Clinical Pathology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
World Allergy Organ J. 2009 May;2(5):63-8. doi: 10.1097/WOX.0b013e3181a33649.
: Interleukin 18 (IL-18) is reported to have regulatory functions on Th1 and Th2 cytokine production and proinflammatory effects through promoting recruitment of memory Th1 cells to inflammatory sites. We sought to investigate the expression of the serum IL-18 in childhood bronchial asthma in relation to disease activity and severity.
: Serum IL-18 was measured by enzymatic immunoassay in 25 asthmatic children during exacerbation and after complete quiescence of symptoms and signs. The results were compared to those of 35 nonallergic age- and sex-matched children.
: Serum IL-18 levels during asthma exacerbation [median = 125 pg/mL; mean (SD) = 128.6 (43.3) pg/mL] were significantly lower than the follow-up levels during stability [median = 250 pg/mL; mean (SD) = 291.6 (66.7) pg/mL] and both levels correlated positively with each other. The corresponding values of the control group were higher than those of the asthmatic patients whether during exacerbation or stability [median = 380 pg/mL; mean (SD) = 476.1 (259.6) pg/mL]. The serum IL-18 concentrations did not vary significantly according to asthma severity, family history of atopy, or passive smoking. The influence of inhaled corticosteroids on IL-18 expression was not impressive and neither was the relation between serum IL-18 and the peripheral blood eosinophil count or serum total IgE expression.
: Serum IL-18 was found underexpressed in a group of asthmatic children especially during exacerbation. Further studies are needed to outline its exact role in the pathogenesis of asthma.
白细胞介素 18（IL-18）据报道具有调节 Th1 和 Th2 细胞因子产生和促炎作用的功能，通过促进记忆性 Th1 细胞向炎症部位募集。我们旨在研究儿童支气管哮喘患者血清 IL-18 的表达与疾病活动度和严重程度的关系。
采用酶联免疫吸附法检测 25 例哮喘患儿在症状和体征完全缓解前（发作期）和缓解后（缓解期）的血清 IL-18 水平，并与 35 例非过敏性年龄和性别匹配的儿童进行比较。
哮喘发作期血清 IL-18 水平[中位数=125pg/ml；均值（标准差）=128.6（43.3）pg/ml]明显低于缓解期[中位数=250pg/ml；均值（标准差）=291.6（66.7）pg/ml]，且两者呈正相关。对照组患儿在发作期和缓解期的血清 IL-18 水平均高于哮喘患儿[中位数=380pg/ml；均值（标准差）=476.1（259.6）pg/ml]。血清 IL-18 浓度与哮喘严重程度、特应性家族史或被动吸烟无关。吸入皮质激素对 IL-18 表达的影响不明显，血清 IL-18 与外周血嗜酸性粒细胞计数或血清总 IgE 表达之间也无明显关系。
哮喘患儿特别是发作期血清 IL-18 表达下调。需要进一步研究以阐明其在哮喘发病机制中的确切作用。
