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Altered serum pro-inflammatory cytokines in children with Down's syndrome
Mahmoud Nateghi Rostami1, Masoumeh Douraghi, Akram Miramin Mohammadi
1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Ruhollah Sq., 14739-79966, Qom, Iran.
Insights
Cytokine levels in children with Down
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
Background:
- Pro-inflammatory cytokines are reportedly dysregulated in adult Down's syndrome (DS).
- Limited research exists on cytokine profiles in pediatric DS populations.
- Understanding immune system alterations in children with DS is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze and compare serum cytokine levels in children with Down's syndrome (DS).
- To investigate differences in cytokine profiles between DS, intellectually disabled (ID), and healthy control children.
- To explore the potential of cytokines as early biomarkers for DS-associated disorders.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples were collected from 24 DS, 24 ID, and 24 healthy control children (ages 1-15).
- Sandwich ELISA was used to measure levels of IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, IFN-γ, and TNF-α.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare cytokine levels between groups.
Main Results:
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels were significantly elevated in DS and ID groups compared to controls.
- DS children showed higher IFN-γ levels than ID children.
- Interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels were higher in the ID group than the DS group.
- Significant correlations were observed between TNF-α and IFN-γ levels in both DS and ID children.
Conclusions:
- Children with Down's syndrome exhibit distinct serum cytokine profiles, with increased TNF-α and IFN-γ.
- Altered cytokine levels, particularly TNF-α and IFN-γ, may contribute to clinical symptoms in DS.
- These pro-inflammatory cytokines show promise as potential early biomarkers for DS-associated conditions.
Abstract:
There are reports showing that pro-inflammatory cytokines are dysregulated in patients with Down's syndrome (DS). However, most of these reports concern adults. We analyzed cytokine levels in serum samples from children with DS, and compared them with samples from intellectually disabled (ID), and healthy, control children. Blood samples were collected from 24 DS, 24 age-/sex-matched ID, and 24 age-/sex-matched healthy, control children. Serum levels of the cytokines IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were measured using a sandwich ELISA method, . The age range of the children was 1-15 years, with a mean ± SD of 5.75 ± 4.36 years. TNF-α levels were significantly higher in the DS and ID groups compared with those found in healthy, control children (P<0.05). The DS and ID groups had significantly higher IFN-γ levels compared with healthy, control children (P = 0.0002 and P<0.01, respectively), with significant higher levels in the DS than the ID group (P<0.05). Serum from the ID group showed significantly higher IL-10 levels compared with those from the DS group (P<0.05), but not the healthy, control group. Significant correlations were found between the differences in TNF-α and IFN-γ levels, in both ID (rs = 0.558; P = 0.005) and DS children (rs = 0.405; P<0.05). There were no significant differences found in serum levels of IL-13 between the groups, and IL-5 was not detectable in any of the serum samples. Levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ were increased, and IL-10 decreased in serum from children with DS. It may be that these differences contribute to the clinical symptoms seen in DS: consequently, these pro-inflammatory cytokines might be useful as early biomarkers of the disorders associated with DS.
