Abstract

LEAL M, Jorymar; ORTEGA, Pablo  and  ROMERO A, Tania. Citocinas séricas en niños infectados con Giardia Lamblia. Arch Venez Puer Ped [online]. 2008, vol.71, n.1, pp.13-16. ISSN 0004-0649.

Introduction: Intestinal giardiasis is a public health problem in developing countries. Although the innate and adaptative immunity mechanisms are necessary for proper control of the infection, few studies have been published in humans on the role of cytokine Th1-Th2 in infection control. The aim of the present study was to analyze the serum concentration of Th1 cytokine (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) and Th2 (IL-4 and IL-10) in euthrophic children infected or not with Giardia lamblia (G. lamblia). Methods:Were analyzed 101 children (3-6y; F=52, M=49) nutritionally eutrophic. Sixty two children free of G. lamblia and 39 infected. The serum concentration of IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 (pg/mL) were determined by ELISA method and IL-2 (U/mL) by EAISA method. The Student’s t test was applied to compare the groups. We considered 95% statistical significance (p<0.05). Results: Cytokine values in children infected with G. lamblia were not statistically different from values in not infected children, probably due to the labile capacity of antigenic proteins to stimulate the immune response. Other in vivo and in vitro studies are necessary to detect the role of cytokine Th1-Th2 in infection control.

Keywords : Cytokines; children; Giardia lamblia.