Background/aim: The role of Th2-type cytokines in development of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has been largely revealed, whereas research on the pathogenesis of eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) has not been widely performed. We investigated the possible involvement of Th2-type cytokines in EGE by measuring plasma cytokine concentrations in patients with EGE as well as those with EoE.
Methods: 18 patients with EoE, 18 with EGE, and 30 normal volunteers were enrolled in the study. Plasma concentrations of five cytokines (thymic stromal lymphopoietin, IL-5, IL-13, IL-15, and eotaxin-3) were measured using Milliplex assays. Clinical characteristics of the patients and plasma cytokine levels were then compared.
Results: Higher proportions of patients with EoE and those with EGE showed elevated plasma concentrations of IL-5 and IL-15 as compared to the normal controls. There was also a positive correlation between IL-5 and IL-15, and also with blood eosinophil count. The plasma concentrations of these cytokines tended to be higher in cases with EGE than in those with EoE, though there were overlaps in cytokine levels among the patients and controls.
Conclusion: Similar increases in plasma IL-5 and IL-15 were observed in patients with EoE and those with EGE.
Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.