Objective To determine the changes ofserum interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF α) and interferon alpha (IFN α) levels in children with age-dependent epileptic encephalopathy (A DEE). Methods We used double antibody sandwiched ELISA to measu re serum IL-2, TNF α and IFN α levels in 20 children with ADEE. Twenty healthy children who were matched by age and sex were in the control group. Res ults The serum IL-2, TNF α and IFN α levels of the epilepsy group wer e statistically higher than those in the control group (379.53±44.86) n g/L vs. (239.66±21.03) ng/L; (962.42±107.69) ng/L vs. (501.6 2±38.93) ng/L; (586.12±84.86) ng/L vs. (329.56±30.43) n g/L; respectively. (t=2.59, 3.51, 2.71,P<0.05, P< 0.01,P<0.05, respectively). The serum level of IL-2 was positively co rrelated with that of TNF α in children with ADEE (r=0.671,P<0.01). Conclusions Children with ADEE had abnormal immunologic f unction. The cytokines might be involved in the pathogenesis of ADEE.