Changes of serum TNF-α, IL-5 and IgE levels in the patients of mycoplasma pneumonia infection with or without bronchial asthma

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the changes of serum levels of TNF-α, IL-5 and IgE in mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) infection patients with or without bronchial asthma and explore its clinical importance.

Methods: ELISA and Western blot assay were performed to detect the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-5 and IgE in 35 healthy subjects, 45 patients with MP infection and 40 bronchial asthma patients with MP infection.

Results: The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-5 and IgE in MP infection patients and asthma patients with MP infection were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects (P<0.01). Moreover, the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-5 and IgE in asthma patients with MP infection was markedly higher than those in MP infection patients (P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed serum TNF-α was positively associated with serum IL-5 (r=0.9636, P<0.01), serum TNF-α positively related to IgE (r=0.9841, P<0.01) and serum IgE positively relevant with serum IL-5 (r=0.9572, P<0.01) in asthma patients with MP infection.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that serum levels of TNF-α, IL-5 and IgE may play important roles in the pathogenesis of MP infection, especially in asthma patients.