Levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in children with post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans.

BACKGROUND

Post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is a chronic obstructive airway disease associated with inflammation and fibrosis of the small airways; it is more common in children who have had acute viral bronchiolitis. No previous studies have reported the immune response of BO. Unbalanced Th1/Th2 immune response might be one of the risk factors for developing this illness.

AIM: To compare the production of interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 in peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures in children with BO and in healthy children.

METHODS

From March 2003 to October 2003, children with BO and healthy children were selected from the paediatric outpatient clinics in our centre. Peripheral blood was collected and mononuclear cells were separated and cultured (96 hours) with 1% phytohaemagglutinin stimulation. The supernatant was stored and cytokine levels were measured through ELISA.

RESULTS

IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 levels were not significantly different between the groups studied. Family history of atopy was significantly associated with subjects with BO (p=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that unbalanced peripheral blood Th1/Th2 immune response of children with post-infectious BO might not be associated with its pathophysiology. Further studies are required to better understand the role of risk factors, including viral genotype, viral load or tissue repair abnormalities in the development of post-infectious BO.