Correlation of Serum IL-17 with Level of Vitamin D and IgE in Asthmatic Patients
Foqia Naz
Department of Immunology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
Nadeem Afzal *
Department of Immunology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
Faheem Shahzad
Department of Immunology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
Muhammad Kashif
Department of Immunology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
Khursheed Javed
Department of Immunology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
Shah Jahan
Department of Immunology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
Waqas Latif
Quality Enhancement Cell, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways caused by hypersensitivity and characterized by Th2 cytokine i.e. IL-4, that contribute to enhanced proliferation and differentiation of Th2 cells and switch of B cells from IgM to IgE production. Vitamin D also has a role in proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis of cells of the immune system, production of cytokines, and immunoglobulins. Elevated levels of IL-17 have been documented in bronchial submucosa and relationship of IL-17 and severe hyper responsiveness of airways have been established. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine serum level of vitamin D, IgE and IL-17 in patients of bronchial asthma.
Methodology: It was a comparative study, which included 82 subjects i.e. Group-I (41 subjects without asthma), and group-II (41 asthmatic patients). Serum levels of IL-17, IgE and vitamin D were determined by ELISA technique and the results were analyzed by using SPSS-20.0. Mann-Whitney-U, Chi-square and Pearson’s correlation tests were used for data analysis.
Results: Mean ± SD of total serum IgE level of bronchial asthma patients was high (861.6±559.2 IU/ml) compared to controls (204.7±237 IU/ml) and on comparison there was statistically significant difference (p value 0.000). Mean ± SD of serum vitamin D level in asthmatics was 28.04±17.67 ng/ml while in non-asthmatics it was 27.27±17.01 ng/ml and on comparison the difference was not statistical significant (p=0.915). Mean ± SD of serum level of IL-17 was high in asthmatics (920.08±732 pg/ml) as compared to non-asthmatics (767.71±811 pg/ml) and on comparison the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.108). In asthmatics, there was positive correlation of serum level of vitamin D and IL-17 (r=0.101) and there was an association (p=0.001) of family history with asthma.
Conclusion: Asthmatics had raised serum level of IgE, vitamin D and IL-17 as compared to controls and on comparison only the difference of IgE was statistically significant. Further, an association of family history of asthma was observed in asthmatic patients.
Keywords: Asthma, IL-17, Vitamin D, IgE