Levels of interferon gamma (INF-y)‎ and lnterleukin-4 (IL-4)‎ in neonates of asthmatic mothers

Abstract EN

Background: several methods have been used to identify among healthy neonates those at high risk of developing atopic manifestations.

If a sensitive method was available that could predict as early as possible, those at high risk of developing a topic, more effective preventive programs could be applied at an early stage. Aims : to detect the levels of interferon gamma and interleukin-4 in both high and low risk neonates to find a new and accurate method for prediction of atopic.

Methods : our study included 20 pregnant women and their full term normal neonates.They were divided into two groups.

Group (A) or high risk group which included 10 atopic pregnant women and their neonates.

Group (B), the low risk or normal control group which included 10 non atopic pregnant women and their 10 neonates with no family history of atopic.

Laboratory studies done for each mother and her neonate including complete blood count with special reference to absolute eosinophilia count, total immunoglobulin E using ELISA technique, immunological profile using flow kilometric assay for detection of CD4 Thl and CD4 Th2 ceils to measure their cytokines i.e.

Interferon gamma and IL-4 respectively. Results: Laboratory investigations revealed that Thl expressing INF-y was lower in atopic mothers than non-atopic as well as in their neonates and the difference in both cases was statistically significant.

(The mean of Thl expressing INF-y was 14.8600% in atopic mothers, while it was 19.9100% in non-topics and the P was < 6.601, while the mean wasr9:9700%Tn high 'risk neonates and 11.3500% in4ow risk and the P= 0.05).

Concerning Th2 expressing IL-4 it was higher in both atopic mothers and their neonates than in non-atopic and their neonates.

(The mean was 21.57% in atopic mothers and 16.74% in non-atopic mothers and P < 0.01, while it was 19.580% in the high risk neonates (A), and 17.600% in low risk (B) and P = 0.05.) Conclusion : our conclusion as obtained from our results was that perinatal T cell responses with their expressed cytokines could be accurate predictive markers for atopic especially so, was Interferon gamma.