Objective:To investigate the changes of IL-17

TGF-β and IL-6 concentrations in the induced sputum of asthma patients of different stages.Methods:Sputum IL-17

TGF-β and IL-6 concentrations were measured in 57 patients with asthma including 25 in acute stage

15 in chronic stage

and 17 in remission stage

and another 13 healthy children were in the control group.They were measured with sandwich enzyme immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results:The IL-17 concentration in different stages was as follows:(855.39±46.89) pg/ml in acute stage

(705.63±46.29) pg/ml in chronic stage

and(597.09±60.26) pg/ml in remission stage

the IL-17 concentration in healthy control group was(434.12±43.63) pg/ml.The mean IL-17 concentration was increased in asthma compared with healthy control group(P<0.05).The IL-17 and IL-6 concentrations in acute stage were significantly higher than in chronic and remission stage(P<0.05).TGF-β concentration was measured in the different stages

and there were no significantly differences between them.Conclusion:IL-17 and IL-6 concentrations are significantly increased in asthma and may be used as one of the indices of airway inflammation.