Serum Levels of Interleukin-10 and Tumor Growth Factor-β1 in Children With Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders Compared to Control Groups

Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders (EGID) are a heterogeneous group of gastrointestinal disorders, associated with an increase of the eosinophils in the gastrointestinal mucosal tissue. Regulatory T cells (Tregs), as a subset of T cells, have a proven prominent role in immunopathology and protection against allergic diseases. Also, they appear to play a role in EGID pathogenesis. In the present study, serum levels of Tumor Growth Factor (TGF)-β and interleukin (IL)-10 were measured in patients with EGID compared to patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and healthy subjects. A total of 34 patients with EGID, 23 with GERD, and 25 healthy controls were included in the study. The diagnoses of EGID and GERD were made based on the patients’ clinical symptoms, endoscopic findings, and biopsy confirmation. A questionnaire of demographic information, allergy history, as well as endoscopic-pathological and skin prick test results were completed and performed. The serum levels of TGF-β and IL-10 were measured using the ELISA method. Family history of allergic disorders in patients with EGID or GERD was significantly high compared to healthy controls (P=0.010, P=0.005, respectively). There was a statistically significant increase in serum levels of TGF-β1 (P=0.025), but no significant difference was observed in serum level of IL-10 among three groups. However, the serum level of IL-10 was significantly high in a subgroup of patients with upper gastrointestinal eosinophilic involvement compared to the healthy controls (P=0.018). Significant increase in the serum level of IL-10 and TGF- β might be due to the Tregs dysfunction in EGID patients. Further studies should determine the role of Tregs in the pathogenesis of EGID.