Abstract: An immunosuppressed mouse model and a mouse mode of food allergy were created and used to determine the changes in cytokines such as IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-γ and TGF-β in the peripheral blood by ELISA. The results showed that the spleen and thymus indices of the immunosuppressed model induced by cyclophosphamide (CY) injection significantly decreased (P ≤ 0.05) compared with the blank control group with the lowest level on the third day of administration. The peripheral blood in the mouse model with allergy to albumin displayed an extremely significantly increase in IgE level (P ≤ 0.01). IFN-γ (except for the third day) and TGF-β (also except for the third day) contents and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio in the peripheral blood in the immunosuppressed mouse model significantly decreased and IL-10 also showed a decreasing trend. A significant increase in IL-4 level was observed except for the second day, but IL-4 level significantly increased only on the third day, and IL-12 level decreased at first and then increased. The mice allergic to albumin showed significant increases in IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β levels, but a significant decrease in IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio, and no obvious changes in IFN-γ and IL-12 levels. In conclusion, the balance between Th1 andTh2 cells is shifted to Th2 cells in both models. Immunosuppression has a greater impact on Th1 cells but a weaker impact on Th2 cells than food allergy.

Key words: immunosuppression, food allergy, cytokine, T helper cell, the balance of Th1/Th2 cells