Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part A (2024)

Background: Chronic inflammatory respiratory disease, as Bronchial Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) became from large problem in recent years especially with increasing of environmental pollution. There are many of immunology mediators which have essential role in pathogenesis of asthma and COPD. Present study aimed to evaluate serum concentration of IL-4 and determine the appropriate cutoff that can be used as indicator of eosinophilic asthma and COPD.
Methods: The current research included the collection of blood samples from 40 asthmatic patients, 40 COPD and 40 healthy individuals. The serum concentration of IL-4 and IgE was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while a complete blood count was performed to determine the number of eosinophils and lymphocytes, as well as the assessment of FEV1/FVC ratio by spirometry.
Results: The results showed a high level of IgE, eosinophils and lymphocytes in patients with asthma (551 IU/ml, 880 cell/uL and 4092 cell/uL respectively) and COPD (307 IU/ml, 418cell/uL, 4749 cell/uL respectively) compared with the control (7.95 IU/ml, 191cell/uL, 894 cell/uL). Also, a clear increase in the concentration of IgE and eosinophils was detected in asthma while a decrease in the FEC1/FVC rate (51.30%) associated with number of lymphocytes seen in COPD patients. Our results showed a high concentration of IL-4 in the serum of patients with asthma (47.13 pg/ml) and COPD (27.82 pg/ml) compared with the control (3.919 pg/ml). Moreover, linear positive correlation (r= 0.8949) appeared between IL-4 and eosinophils in asthmatic patients.
In conclusion: Concentration of IL-4 in the serum ≥10.82 and ≥9.88 was appropriate as a diagnostic indicator for asthma and COPD respectively.