文本框: CHANGE AND CORRELATION OF TNF-α, ENDOTHELIN (ET) AND IL-8 IN ASTHMATIC INFANTS Shang YX, Zhao SQ, Han XH, Chai XX, et al Department of Pediatrics, Second Clinical Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China Objective: Tumor Necrosis Factor-α(TNF-α) and IL- 8 are cellular factors, Endothelin (ET) is a polypeptide substance. Basic study showed that TNF-α, ET and IL-8 had close relation with the flamatory production in asthmatic airway; ET and TNF-αcan cause bronchial hyperresponsiveness; TNF-αcan induce the production of ET and IL- 8. Our study is for the purpose of observing the change and correlation of endogenous TNF-α, ET and IL- 8 in infants with asthma. Methods: 30 infants (age < 2 years) with asthma were measured dynamically for blood TNF-α, ET and IL-8 in the stage of asthma attack and remission stage. TNF-αand ET by radio-immunoassay (RIA), IL- 8 by chemiluminescent immunoassay. The ages of normal control group (n=18) were same to studied patients. Results: The levels of TNF-α(12.88±2.42μg/L), ET(86.36±22.26 ng/L) and IL- 8 (684.65±98.82 ng/L) were significantly higher (p<0.01) in the asthma attack stage than those in the remission stage (TNF-α7.06±2.86μg/L; ET 62.48±13.86ng/L; IL- 8 165±72.6 ng/L) and normal control group (TNF-α7.01±1.89μg/L; ET 60.26±10.38 ng/L; IL-8 157±76.9 ng/L). The asthma symptom turns for the better, the levels of TNF-α, ET and IL- 8 in blood are lower. There were no statistical difference (p>0.05) between ashma remission stage and normal control group in the change of blood TNF-α, ET and IL- 8. Linear correlation analysis revealed that the level of TNF-αhad a positive correlation in the asthma attack stage with ET (r = 0.53, p<0.05) and with IL- 8 ( r = 0.508 p<0.05). Conclusion: the results suggest that the change of blood TNF-α, ET and IL- 8 were parallel with the asthmatic status. The increase of TNF-α, ET and IL- 8 might take part in the pathophysiologic process of asthma attack in infants. The causes of blood ET and IL- 8 increased in asthma attack stage are not clear, our finding suggest the elevated TNF-αlevel in blood might be one of the factors. 0758