The changes of serum cytokines in children with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

Abstract

Objective To investigate the changes of serum cytokines in children with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP).Methods A total of 239 children with MPP hospitalized in our department from Jan 2008 to Dec 2009 served as MPP group,which were redivided into mild MPP group (n =152) and severe MPP group ( n =87 ).Two hundred and sixty-three acute bronchopneumonia children without MPP infection served as non-MPP group.Fifty cases who would undergo hernia and phimosis elective surgery in pediatric surgery department served as control group.All children with pneumonia were detected mycoplasma pneumoniae antibodies and cytokines (TNF-α,IFN-γ,IL-1β,IL-4,IL-6) of serum in the first day of hospitalization and recovery period.Children in control group were detected the level of cytokines only once.Results Serum levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6 in MPP group and non-MPP group were higher than those in control group ( P ＜ 0.01 ).No significant differences of IFN-γ and IL-4 levels were found among three groups ( P ＞ 0.05 ).Compared with non-MPP group,the levels of IFN-γ,IL-1β and IFN-γ/IL-4 were higher in MPP group ( P ＜ 0.01 ).The levels of TNF-α,IL- 1β,IL-6,and IFN-γ/IL-4 were significantly decreased in the recovery period of MPP (P ＜0.001,P ＜ 0.05 ).The levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IFN-γ/IL-4 in severe MPP children were higher than those in mild MPP children ( P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusion The immunologic function of MPP children is unbalanced.The serum levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,and IFN-γ/IL-4 are correlated with severity of MPP,which help to evaluate the state of MPP. Key words: Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Interleukin-4; Interferonγ; Interleukin-6; Interleukin-1β; Children