Abstract: Objective To evaluate the correlation between six serum cytokines and lung fibrosis, and damaged degree of lung function. MethodsSerum cytokines, lung function and chest high-resolution computed tomography(HRCT) in 133 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were detected. According to the result of lung function, all cases were divided into normal group (47cases), mild grade restrictive decrease group (36cases), moderate restrictive decrease group (25cases) and severe restrictive decrease group (25cases). The fibrosis extent was defined by score system of HRCT. ResultsAmong 4 lung function groups, the H value of serum cytokines IL-1, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IFN-Υ,TNF-αwere 101.282, 96.454, 0.990, 0.538,102.300, 97.715 respectively, with statistically significant differences of IL-1, IL-2, IFN-Υ, TNF-α among the 4 groups(P=0.000). Total HRCT scores ranged from 1 to15. Significant positive correlations were observed between HRCT score and IL-1, and TNF-α(R=0.757 P=0.000，R=0.972 P=0.000), whereas negative correlations were found in IL-2 and IFN-Υ(R=-0.738 P=0.000，R=-0.750 P=0.000). There was no correlation between HRCT score and IL-5, IL-6 (R=0.102 P=0.241，R=0.048 P=0.584). 133 patients were divided into low score (99cases) group and high score (34cases) group according to HRCT score. The difference of mean between IL and TNF-αwas significant by statistics(P=0.000). A correlation matrix for the different cytokines was evaluated one against another. Similar changes were observed between IL-1 and TNF-α; IL-5 and IL-6; IL-2 and IFN-Υ. However, opposite changes were observed between IL-1 and IL-2; IL-1and IFN-Υ; IL-2and TNF-α.ConclusionsThere is a significant correlation between serum cytokines and lung function, and lung fibrosis. IL-1 and TNF-αshow the strongest correlation with them.

Key words: pulmonary tuberculosis/blood, cytokines, pulmonary fibrosis