Abstract：Objective To study the changes of IFN-γ, IL-4, ECP and IgE levels in children with asthma before and after inactivated bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) inoculation. Methods Forty-five young children with asthma aging from 9 months to 3 years were involved in this study. Serum levels of IgE and ECP were determined with enzyme linked fluoroimmunoassay by Phamacia CAP system. The concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-4 from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured using ELISA before and after inactivated BCG inoculation. Forty infants with asthma who received the routine treatment and twenty healthy infants served as the controls. Results After inactivated BCG inoculation for 6 months, the IFN-γ level increased significantly from 16.4± 7.1 pg/L to 241.6± 111.3 pg/L (P< 0.01). The IL-4 and ECP levels decreased significantly from 214.4± 90.9 pg/L and 13.4± 20.2 μg/L to 46.1± 21.5 pg/L and 5.5± 6.5 μg/L respectively (P< 0.05). The IL-4 level was significantly negatively correlated with the IFN-γ level (r= 0.626, P< 0.05). There was no difference in the serum IgE level before and after BCG treatment. In patients who received the routine treatment, only IFN-γ levels differed from that of before treatment ( 32.0± 12.1 pg/L vs 17.6± 7.2 pg/L; P< 0.01). Conclusions Inactivated BCG treatment may increase IFN-γ levels and decrease IL-4 levels, which is favorable to the regulation of T-cell balance. It also can decrease the ECP level and relieve chronic airway inflammation response, but it fails to respond to IgE level.
HE Xua-Hua,LI Yun,YANG Yu-Jia et al. Effects of inactivated bacillus Calmette-Guerin inoculation on IgE ,ECP, IFN-γ and IL-4 levels in infants with asthma[J]. CJCP, 2004, 6(3): 191-194.
