Objective   To investigate the expressions of Th1 and Th2 cytokines including INF-γ

IL-4 and IL-10 in patients with mesangial proliferative nephritis (MsPGN).    Methods   Twenty-five patients with pathologically diagnosed MsPGN (mild or moderate proliferation) who admitted in our hospital from November 2007 to May 2008 were enrolled in this study. Another 10 healthy individuals served as normal control. Their clinical parameters including ALT

creatine

albumin

WBC and C3 were compared. ELISA was used to determine their serum levels of INF-γ

IL-4 and IL-10.    Results   The C3 level was significantly lower in MsPGN group than in normal control

but there was no significant difference in other clinical parameters. Serum level of IFN-γ was higher in MsPGN patients than that in normal control (P0.01)

and IL-10 levels in MsPGN patients were lower than that in healthy individuals (P0.05). There was no significant difference in IL-4 contents between MsPGN patients and normal control (P0.05). The INF-γ/IL-4 ratio and INF-γ/IL-10 ratio in MsPGN patients were significantly higher than those in healthy donors (P0.01).    Conclusion   The polarization of Th1 cytokines in MsPGN patients indicates that Th1 cytokines may be involved in the pathogenesis of MsPGN.