Effect of corticosteroids on the balance of Th cytokines in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Xie, H.-f.; Li, J.; Shi, W.
Hunan Yi Ke da Xue Xue Bao 27(6): 533-535
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 1000-5625 PMID: 12658932 Document Number: 545383
To investigate the levels of Th cell-derived cytokines and the effect of corticosteroids on the balance of Th1/Th2 cytokines in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Fifty-eight SLE patients were treated with corticosteroids. Their IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 levels were detected by ELISA before and after the treatment with corticosteroids respectively; and the SLEDAI scores of the patients were compared before and after the treatment. Before the treatment, the serum levels of IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 were higher than those of the healthy controls (P < 0.05). After the treatment with corticosteroids, the elevated levels of IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 in the SLE patients were all significantly reduced than those before the treatment (P < 0.05). At the same time, the SLEDAI scores were significantly lower than those before the treatment (P < 0.01). The serum level of IFN-gamma was significantly decreased in the patients with SLE compared with the healthy controls (P < 0.05). By contrast, the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 of the patients with SLE were significantly increased compared with the healthy controls (P < 0.05). Corticosteroids may induce a shift from the Th1 to Th2 profile of cytokine secretion. This may be one aspect of the mechanisms for corticosteroids treatment.