Levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and T cell subsets in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of children with refractory mycoplasma pneumonia

Abstract

Objective To explore the interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and T cell subsets levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of children with refractory mycoplasma pneumonia. Methods A total of 53 children with refractory mycoplasma pneumonia were selected as the observation group, 30 children with bronchial foreign body in our hospital were chosen as controls during the same period. ABC-double antibody sandwich ELISA method was used to detect IL-6, IL-10 levels and the CD3+ , CD4+ and CD8+ T levels were measured by means of flow cytometry in BALF. Results The IL-6 and IL-10 levels in BALF of children in the observation group were (63.25±18.61) ng/ml, (31.83±8.33) ng/ml respectively, and they were significantly higher than those of the controls [(30.51±1.34) ng/ml, (11.01±2.91) ng/ml] (P<0.05, respectively). The percentage of CD3+ , CD4+ , CD8+ T cells and the ratio of CD4+ /CD8+ T cells in BALF of the observation group were (48.47±2.88)%, (21.16±6.29)%, (23.04±4.63)%, 0.94±0.33, respectively, and they were significantly lower than those of the controls [(64.24±3.06)%, (34.34±7.59)%, (26.71±5.29)%, 1.56±0.67] (P<0.05, respectively). Conclusion The IL-6, IL-10 levels in BALF of children with refractory mycoplasma pneumonia significantly increased, suggesting that cell-mediated immunity play an important role in the pathogenesis of refractory mycoplasma pneumonia. Key words: Refractory mycoplasma pneumonia; Mycoplasma; Lavage fluid; interleukin-6; interleukin-10; T cell subsets