INTERLEUKIN 10 (IL-10) IN ASTHMA AND EFFECT OF STEROID INHALATION

Abstract

Bronchial asthma is a world wide substantial health problem among children and adults due to its increasing prevalence rate in many countries. It affects an estimated 5 - I 0 percent of the population and as such it represents a major health care issue. The morbidity and mortality from asthma have continued to increase despite the use of currently available therapeutic agents and so prompted an intense search for new methods of treating asthma.

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammation of the human airways. This inflammation plays a major role in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma and is characterized by increase in the number of oesinophils and mast cells and increased production of TH2 type cytokines profile (e.g. IL4, IL5, IL6 and IL 10) with reduced TH 1 responses.

It was found that cytokines play a maJor role in the development of acute and chronic inflammation and they regulate the immune response. They may have synergistic or antagonistic effects with each other as a part of a complex interacting network. Some may act as proinflammatory mediators but others have the capability to down regulate inflammation (i.e. anti-inflammatory). IL 10 is recognized as an anti-inflammatory peptide. Its role in the immune system is still under study. It has a great diversity of actions singularly, synergistically and simultaneously.