SERUM LEVELS OF GAMMA-INTERFERON, NEOPTERIN AND INTERLEUKIN-10 IN PATIENTS WITH DOWNS-SYNDROME

Serum levels of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), neopterin and interleuki n-10 (IL-10) were determined in 11 patients with Down's syndrome (DS), 13 with mental retardation and 8 with epilepsy. Elevated serum levels of IFN-gamma and neopterin were observed in DS patients, whereas pati ents with mental retardation or epilepsy had normal levels of IFN-gamm a and neopterin. A moderate decrease of IL-10 was noted in patients wi th DS. A significant correlation between serum levels of IFN-gamma and neopterin was found in DS patients. The results suggest that elevated levels of IFN-gamma, neopterin and IL-10 reveal the activation of cel l-mediated immunity in Down's syndrome.