Conclusion
Our findings indicate that serum levels of TNF-α, IL-5 and IgE may play important roles in the pathogenesis of MP infection, especially in asthma patients.
Methods
ELISA and Western blot assay were performed to detect the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-5 and IgE in 35 healthy subjects, 45 patients with MP infection and 40 bronchial asthma patients with MP infection.
Objective
This study aimed to investigate the changes of serum levels of TNF-α, IL-5 and IgE in mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) infection patients with or without bronchial asthma and explore its clinical importance.
Results
The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-5 and IgE in MP infection patients and asthma patients with MP infection were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects (P<0.01). Moreover, the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-5 and IgE in asthma patients with MP infection was markedly higher than those in MP infection patients (P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed serum TNF-α was positively associated with serum IL-5 (r=0.9636, P<0.01), serum TNF-α positively related to IgE (r=0.9841, P<0.01) and serum IgE positively relevant with serum IL-5 (r=0.9572, P<0.01) in asthma patients with MP infection.