Czynniki bakteryjne a cytokiny prozapalne (IL-1β, IL-6 i IL-8) w przebiegu zakażeń układu moczowego u dzieci

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the second most frequent bacterial infection in children. The symptoms differ depending on the child's age. The greatest susceptibility to this infection is observed in infants and small children. Up to the second year of age each case of UTI is considered an acute pyelonephritis (AP). The most frequent pathogen (80-90%) responsible for UTI is Escherichia coli. Some children display individual susceptibility to urine-pathogenic infection. The course and complications of AP are highly influenced by P fimbria on a bacterial cell. A remote complication of AP is scarring of kidneys' tissue and impairment of their function, including chronic deficiency. Both the severity of AP course and its complications depend on general and local immunity, the type of pathogenic bacteria and - apparently - on the intensity of synthesis of pro-inflammatory factors, including interleukin-1 IIL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8). The main factor stimulating the formation of cytokines in urinary ducts is liposaccaride of cell membrane in Gram-negative bacteria (LPS). Whether these cytokines accelerate the process of kidney scarring or the opposite - whether they perform a protective role in the urinary system remains a disputable question.