Interleukin-1 alpha, soluble interleukin-2 receptor, and IgG concentrations in cystic fibrosis treated with prednisolone

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood Vol. 71; no. 1; pp. 35 - 39
• Main Authors: Greally, P, Hussain, M J, Vergani, D, Price, J F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 01.07.1994; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Corticoids; Corticosteroids; Cystic fibrosis; Cystic Fibrosis - blood; Cystic Fibrosis - drug therapy; Cystic Fibrosis - physiopathology; Cytokines; Double-Blind Method; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume - drug effects; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Inflammation; Interleukin 1; Interleukin 2; Interleukin-1 - blood; Lung - physiopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Pediatrics; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prednisolone; Prednisolone - therapeutic use; Receptors, Interleukin-2 - analysis; Respiratory function; Respiratory system; Spirometry; Human; Corticosteroid; Spirometry; Respiratory disease; Cytokine; Oral administration; IgG; Interleukin 1α; Genetic disease; Mucoviscidosis; Treatment; Interleukin 2; Digestive diseases; Biological effect; Child; Prednisolone; Pancreatic disease
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.71.1.35

The cytokines interleukin-1 and interleukin-2 participate in the inflammatory response, and may contribute to hypergammaglobulinaemia G and the development of lung injury in cystic fibrosis. Anti-inflammatory treatment with corticosteroids may attenuate this response. The effect of a 12 week course of oral prednisolone on spirometry and serum concentrations of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), and IgG was investigated in 24 children with cystic fibrosis. Prednisolone was administered, in a double blind and placebo controlled manner, at an initial dose of 2 mg/kg daily for 14 days and tapered to 1 mg/kg on alternate days for 10 weeks. The treated group (n = 12) experienced an increase in forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity at 14 days, however, these changes were smaller at 12 weeks. In the treated group, change in pulmonary function was associated with decreased serum IgG and cytokine concentrations. Prednisolone suppresses serum concentrations of these cytokines, which may participate in the inflammatory response, the excessive synthesis of IgG, and airflow obstruction observed in cystic fibrosis patients.