Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2012 Mar;4(2):92-97. 10.4168/aair.2012.4.2.92.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection Affects the Serum Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Interleukin-5 in Atopic Children

• Jeong YC
• Yeo MS
• Kim JH
• Lee HB
• Oh JW

• KMID: 2260365
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2012.4.2.92

Abstract

PURPOSE
Previous studies have outlined mechanisms by which Mycoplasma pneumonia (M. pneumonia) infection may promote allergic lung inflammation and airway remodeling, and increasing evidence from human studies suggests that atypical bacterial infections contribute to asthma exacerbation, chronic asthma, and disease severity with changes in cytokine expression. The present study evaluated changes in serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin (IL)-5 in atopic children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.
METHODS
We recruited a total of 72 children with pneumonia. The patients were divided into 4 groups: atopic children with M. pneumonia pneumonia (group I, n=24), non-atopic children with M. pneumonia pneumonia (group II, n=23), atopic children with viral pneumonia (group III, n=13), and non-atopic children with viral pneumonia (group IV, n=12). Serum levels of IL-5, IL-13, VEGF, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were measured at admission and at recovery using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
RESULTS
Serum levels of VEGF and IL-5 were elevated in group I compared with the other groups at both admission phase and clinical recovery phase. In group I, serum levels of VEGF and IL-5 were higher at recovery phase than at admission phase (VEGF: 1,102.2+/-569.4 vs. 874.9+/-589.9 pg/mL, respectively; IL-5: 150.5+/-63.9 vs. 120.2+/-46.7 pg/mL, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
The serum levels of VEGF and IL-5 were more increased in atopic children with M. pneumonia pneumonia than in the other groups. In this group, the serum levels of VEGF and IL-5 were more increased at recovery phase than at admission phase. The results of this study suggest that increases in VEGF and IL-5 may contribute to the development of hypersensitivity during M. pneumonia infection. These cytokines may act through their respective pro-inflammatory pathways to aggravate the allergic status and induce airway hypersensitivity during M. pneumonia pneumonia in atopic children.

Keyword

Atopy; interleukin-5; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma; vascular endothelial growth factor

MeSH Terms

Airway Remodeling
Asthma
Bacterial Infections
Child
Cytokines
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Interleukin-13
Interleukin-5
Interleukins
Mycoplasma
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Pneumonia
Pneumonia, Mycoplasma
Pneumonia, Viral
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Cytokines
Interleukin-13
Interleukin-5
Interleukins
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Comparison of serum VEGF levels at admission phase (A) and at clinical recovery phase (R) in the four subject groups. The mean serum VEGF level was higher at clinical recovery phase than at admission phase in group I, whereas the mean serum VEGF levels did not differ significantly between recovery phase and admission phase in the other groups.

• 

  Fig. 2 Comparison of serum IL-5 levels at admission phase (A) and at clinical recovery phase (R) in the four subject groups.The mean serum IL-5 level was higher at clinical recovery phase than at admission phase in group I, whereas the mean serum IL-5 levels did not differ significantly between recovery phase and admission phase in the other groups.

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