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Published on: August 7, 2017
Age-specific analysis of normal cytokine levels in healthy infants
Pascal A Berdat1, Thomas J Wehrle, Angelika Küng
1Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
Insights
Establishing pediatric reference values for interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is crucial. This study found IL-6 levels are lower in the second year of life, suggesting age-specific pediatric reference ranges are needed.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatric Research
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cytokine pathophysiology is understood, but pediatric reference values for key cytokines like IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-alpha are unknown.
- Physiological variations in cytokine levels with age and differences from adult values in children are not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine age-specific reference values for interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in healthy children aged 0-5 years.
- To compare pediatric cytokine levels with established adult reference values.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples from 79 healthy children aged 0-5 years were analyzed.
- Children were divided into six age groups (0-3 months to 49-60 months).
- Concentrations of IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-alpha were measured using ELISA.
Main Results:
- TNF-alpha levels ranged from 2.2-3.5 pg/ml, with a trend towards higher values in infants aged 4-24 months.
- IL-6 levels were significantly lower in children aged 13-24 months compared to older groups (49-60 months).
- IL-10 levels ranged from 3.3-5.5 pg/ml, showing no significant age-related variation. No correlation between age and cytokine levels was found via regression analysis.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric reference levels for IL-6 appear lower during the second year of life compared to later childhood.
- While not statistically significant, observed IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels differed from adult values.
- Age-specific reference ranges for IL-6 and TNF-alpha in children under five are recommended, differing from adult values.
Abstract:
While pathophysiology of elevated cytokines is well delineated, reference values for children are unknown, although they may vary physiologically with age and differ from those of adults. Between June and November 2001, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) concentrations from blood samples of 79 healthy children in six different age groups (group I: 0-3 months; group II: 4-12 months; group III: 13-24 months; group IV: 25-36 months; group V: 37-48 months; group VI: 49-60 months) were measured with ELISA. TNF-alpha was within 2.2-3.5 pg/ml in all groups with a trend toward higher values in groups II and III (p = ns). IL-6 was significantly lower in group III than in groups IV (p = 0.0165) and VI (p = 0.0147). IL-10 was within 3.3-5.5 pg/ml in all groups (p = ns). In regression analysis no correlation between age and cytokine concentrations was found. Although not statistically significant, IL-6 was lower and TNF-alpha higher than the adult reference values provided by the kit manufacturer. Although reference cytokine levels seem not age-related during early infancy, IL-6 is significantly lower during the second year of life than later. In infants aged 5 years or younger, reference levels of IL-6 should be chosen lower, and those of TNF-alpha higher, than the adult reference values.
