proinflammatory plasma cytokines in patients with Down syndrome Cytokiny prozapalne w surowicy pacjentów z zespołem Downa

Introduction. Despite a growing interest in the contribution of the immune system in Down syndrome (DS), the role of cytokines in DS is still unclear. Most studies were conducted in adults with DS. Aim of the study. In this study we determined the levels of the selected proinflammatory cytokines: interleukin-1α (IL-1α), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), human soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor1 (sTNFR1) and human tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in plasma of children and adults with DS. Material and methods. The study included 84 children and adolescents, including 45 with DS (20 boys and 25 girls; mean age 10.44 ± 4.66 years). The control group consisted of 39 children without DS (21 boys and 18 girls; mean age 11.03 ± 4.72). We recruited 81 adults, including 41 with DS (19 males and 22 females; mean age 41.34 ± 8.52). The control group consisted of 40 adults without DS (20 males and 20 females; mean age 40.4 ± 10.29). Immunoassay kits of eBioscience (eBioscience Campus Vienna Biocenter 2, 1030 Vienna, Austria) were used. Results. Compared with the control group, the DS group (children and adults) had statistically significant increases in mean serum IL-1α, IL-2, IL-6 and sTNFR1 levels. The TNF-α levels were also increased in the DS children, but the difference was not statistically significant. A positive correlation was found between IL-2 levels and age and sTNFR1 levels and age in the DS group but only in the case of IL-2 these differences were statistically significant.