Table 3.
Summary of expected cytokine concentrations in infancy and at 12 years of age and changes and coefficient of variation of estimated inter-individual variability.
| Cytokine | Expected value in infancy (ng/ml) | Expected value for 12 years of age (ng/ml) | Change over 12 years (%) | Inter-individual variability (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| unstimulated | ||||
| IL-1ra | 97 | 40 | −58 | 244 |
| IL-2 | <3.2 | <3.2 | NAa | NA |
| IL-4 | <3.2 | <3.2 | NA | NA |
| IL-6 | <3.2 | <3.2 | NA | NA |
| IL-10 | <3.2 | <3.2 | NA | NA |
| IFN-γ | 5.4 | 5.4 | — | 248 |
| IP-10* | 1071 | 1071 | — | 101 |
| TNF-α | 19.5 | 7.5 | −62 | 73 |
| SEB b | ||||
| IL-1ra | 1666 | 801 | −52 | 123 |
| IL-2* | 46834 | 19301 | −59 | 42 |
| IL-4 | 458 | 1614 | +253 | 111 |
| IL-6 | 2847 | 2847 | — | 114 |
| IL-10 | 2190 | 4243 | +93 | 76 |
| IFN-γ* | 19200 | 38503 | +101 | 104 |
| IP-10* | 190133 | 190133 | — | 62 |
| TNF-α | 4740 | 10859 | +129 | 66 |
| PHA c | ||||
| IL-1ra | 505 | 505 | — | 175 |
| IL-2 | 225 | 225 | — | 217 |
| IL-4 | 358 | 1829 | +411 | 201 |
| IL-6 | 1263 | 1263 | — | 260 |
| IL-10 | 146 | 844 | +477 | 130 |
| IFN-γ | 413 | 1340 | +224 | 135 |
| IP-10* | 97973 | 97973 | — | 111 |
| TNF-α | 352 | 930 | +164 | 157 |
| C. albicans | ||||
| IL-1ra | 372 | 372 | — | 327 |
| IL-2* | 65 | 392 | +505 | 641 |
| IL-4 | 15 | 49 | +220 | 437 |
| IL-6* | 22 | 130 | +491 | 1412 |
| IL-10 | 15 | 15 | — | 206 |
| IFN-γ | 22 | 83 | +274 | 132 |
| IP-10* | 5601 | 11235 | +101 | 266 |
| TNF-α | 26 | 57 | +116 | 169 |
aNA = not applicable (Data not analysed since over 69% of samples below the lower limit of quantification), bSEB = Staphylococcal enterotoxin B, cPHA = Phytohaemagglutinin. *Concentrations above or below the limit of quantification were extrapolated from the calibration curve.