Evaluation And Investigation Of The Immunotherapy Of The Constant Stimulation By Killed BCG Through Skin In Young Children Asthma

Background Th2-type cytokines, such as IL-4, are generally believed to play an important role in The pathogenesis of allergic asthma, In contrast,Thl-type cytokine, especially interferon(IFN)-gamma, is thought to have a downregulatory effect on Th2 immune response cells. A change in the Thl/Th2 balance, caused by the dramatic change in the microbial environment of children, may account for the increasing prevalence of these conditions, but can also provide a conceptual basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Recently, BCG might be related to increased Thl response which is perhaps mediated by overexpression of IFN- Y and downregulated the IL-4.Objectives The aim of this study is to examine the changes of IFN-r, IL-4, ECP, IgE, PPD of asthmatic children both at the beginning (acute or convalescent) stages and six months later treated by the constant stimulation by killed BCG through skin, to explore the relationship between the constant stimulation by killed BCG through skin and the effects of asthma episode, to investigate the value of this therapy.MeThods Forty-five asthma in young children aged 0.9-3 years were included in this study. The PPD test was performed, serum levels of IgE and ECP were determined with enzyme linked fluoroimmunoassay by Phamacia CAP system. ELISA assays were applied to measure cytokine concentrations of supernatant(IFN- Y ,IL-4) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC). Following the constant stimulation by killed BCG through skin, measurements were repeated in 45 of the asthma 6 months later. Forty bronchial asthmas in infancy and twenty healthy infancies served as the controls. On the other hand, The effect of this therapy that treated by the constant stimulation by killedinBCG through skin, was investigated and evaluated in clinic.Results Through constant curing, the levels of IFN- Y increased significantly from 16.36 + 7.098 at the beginning to 241.59+111.25 (P< 0.01 at six later. IL-4 and ECP decreased significantly from 214.36 + 90.88, 13.40 + 20.21 to 46.13 + 21.46, 5.51+6.46 (P<0.05 respectively. The total serum IgE at the two stages were similar. The negative tuberculin test became positive tuberculin test after treatment. The constant killed BCG stimulation by skin can decrease the episode of asthma in young children.Conclusions These data are consistent with the hypothesis both Th 1 (IFN- Y) and Th2(IL-4) are associated with infancy asthma, providing preliminary evidence for a genetic link between The killed BCG and immune regulation in infancy asthma. The author found an inverse correlation between PPD response, IFN- Y , IL-4, ECP and episode status in the constant stimulation by killed BCG Through skin, the therapy, constant stimulation by killed BCG through skin, resulted in clinical improvement in the infancy asthma along with regulation of T-cell balance and cytokine expression,...