Abstract: Zeng Sanwu*, Wang Deling, Zou Yingxue, Tang Naijun, Chen Xu, Wei Wenguo, Jin Jingji, Qi Fang, Suo Danfeng. *Department of Dermatology, Tianjin First Center Hospital, Tianjin 300192, China Corresponding author: Zeng Sanwu, Email: sanwuzeng@sohu.com 【Abstract】 Objective To explore the relationship between atopic dermatitis （AD） and IgE, interleukin （IL）-4 and IL-18 levels in maternal serum and umbilical cord blood. Methods A total of 921 mother-newborn pairs were recruited to a birth cohort during 2009－2011 through a questionnaire survey. Venous blood samples were collected from the mothers during birth hospitalization, and umbilical cord blood samples from the newborns at birth. All of these blood samples were cryopreserved. Thirty-five infants, who were diagnosed with AD during follow up at 12 and 24 months after birth, with their mothers served as the patient group; 35 infants without AD were selected randomly from the remaining infants, and served as the control group with their mothers. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was performed to detect the levels of IgE, IL-4 and IL-18 in serum samples from the mothers of these 70 infants as well as in their umbilical cord blood samples, so as to evaluate the roles of these indexes in predicting the occurrence of AD. Results Compared with the control group, the patient group showed higher total IgE levels in maternal serum （（425.34 ± 278.38） vs. （87.12 ± 47.48） IU/ml, t = 7.29, P < 0.01） and umbilical cord blood （（418.23 ± 256.76） vs. （81.77 ± 45.26） IU/ml, t = 7.88, P < 0.01）. Increased IL-4 level was also observed in maternal serum （（316.28 ± 80.92） vs. （188.79 ± 61.92） ng/L, t = 25.77, P < 0.01） and umbilical cord blood （（356.73 ± 91.01） vs. （191.45 ± 73.65） ng/L, t = 18.90, P < 0.01） in the patient group compared with the control group. The IL-8 level was significantly higher in maternal serum in the patient group than in the control group （（425.38 ± 49.36） vs. （141.7 ± 29.91） ng/L, t = 42.73, P < 0.01）, but similar in umbilical cord blood between the two groups （P > 0.05）. Conclusion Total IgE and IL-4 levels in maternal serum and umbilical cord blood as well as IL-18 level in maternal serum are related to the occurrence of childhood AD.

Key words: Dermatitis, atopic, Immunoglobulin E, Interleukin-18, Interleukin-4, Cord blood