Importance of IL-10 and IL-17 cytokines in human asthma as studied by ELISPOT

Background: ELISPOT assays are an integral part of many clinical trials or basic immune monitoring research projects and detection of cytokines can be used in conjunction with other functional assays to gain a better overall picture of an immune response. Aim: Detection of cytokines secreted by ex vivo stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) by ELISA is usually hampered due to low frequencies of specific T cells and cellular receptor consumption.Hence it would be ideal to study the cytokines by Elispot assay which shows the actual number of cells secreting the cytokine. Methods: IL-10 and IL-17 cytokines in 12 asthmatic patients were studied and compared to 12 healthy controls by ELISPOT assay. Results: Significant difference in IL-10 cytokines by elispot on stimulation by mitogen was observed, but no difference in IL-17 cytokine seen.There was spontaneous production of IL-17 cytokines in asthmatic patients. Increase in IL-10 cytokines seen only after the trigger of and by the allergens that may act as mitogens. Conclusion: ELISPOT gives information about how much cytokine these cells secreted, but no quantitative cytokine concentrations.