Serum levels of inflammatory and regulatory cytokines in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hantaviruses are the causative agents of two zoonotic diseases: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS). The pathogenesis of HFRS is poorly understood. However, it has been suggested that immune mechanisms, including cytokines, might have an important role in HFRS pathogenesis. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate cytokine profiles in serum samples of HFRS patients from Slovenia and explore a possible correlation between cytokine levels and disease severity.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Acute-phase serum samples from 52 patients, diagnosed with DOBV infection, and 61 patients, diagnosed with PUUV infection, were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups - severe or mild - based on disease severity. Levels of IL-10, IL-12, INF-γ and TNF-α were measured in the serum samples with commercial ELISA tests.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Increased levels of IL-10, INF-γ, and TNF-α were found in almost all the serum samples tested. On average, higher concentrations were detected in patients infected with DOBV than PUUV. Furthermore, significantly higher levels of IL-10 (<it>P </it>= 0.001) and TNF-α (<it>P </it>= 0.003) were found in patients with a more severe clinical course of disease. The same association between IL-10 (<it>P </it>< 0.001) and TNF-α (<it>P </it>= 0.021), and the severity of the disease was observed also when only patients infected with DOBV were considered. No differences in cytokine concentrations according to disease severity were observed in patients infected with PUUV. Concentrations of serum IL-12 in HFRS patients were in the normal range, however, higher levels were detected in patients infected with PUUV than in patients infected with DOBV.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We suggest that imbalance in production of proinflammatory and regulatory cytokines might be in part responsible for a more severe course of HFRS.</p

Cord blood interleukin-8 levels correlate with airway flow limitation at eight years of age in ex-very low birth weight infants

Background. Exposure to prenatal inflammation increases the risk for development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Aim. To evaluate the correlation between cord blood and gastric aspirate levels of interleukine-6 (IL-6) and interleukine-8 (IL-8) in preterm infants, and lung function at the age of 8 years. Methods. Between 2000-2002 we recruited 129 infants of gestational age < 30 wks. The concentration of IL-6 and IL-8 were measured in gastric aspirate and cord blood. At the age of 8 years, 30 ex-preterm infants, with mean gestational age of 27 wks and mean birth weight of 955 g, returned for pulmonary function measurement. To exclude major bias, a comparison between the study group and non-responder group was done and showed no statistically significant difference with respect to perinatal characteristics, ventilation days, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and cytokine concentration. Results. Pulmonary function test measurments in children born preterm were lower than in their term pairs. However, only the difference in forced mid-expiratory flow (FEF25-75%) was statisticaly significant. The concentration of IL-6 and IL-8 in cord blood and in gastric aspirate inversely correlated to all parameters of lung fuction at the age of 8 years, however only correlations between the concentration of IL-8 in cord blood and forced expired volume in one second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) (r = -0.38, p = 0.04) and FEF 25%-75% (r = -0.44, p = 0.02) were statistically significant. Conclusion. These results show a negative correlation between the concentration of IL-8 in cord blood and FEF25%-75% and FEV1/FVC, which suggests the important role of IL-8 in early airway remodeling

Systemic and Local CC Chemokines Production in a Murine Model of Listeria monocytogenes Infection

Repeated intragastric inoculation of Listeria monocytogenes into BALB/c mice resulted in prolonged bacteraemia and severe hepatic infection. Bacteria could also be isolated from the brain tissue of all experimental mice. During the inflammatory process, chemokine concentrations typically increased at the local site in comparison to the systemic level. The liver-to-serum ratio was more pronounced in the case of macrophage inflammatory protein 1α (MIP-1α), suggesting its role in the inflammatory response in the liver. The ratio of brain-to-serum concentration of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) remained the same as in the control animals, while it was lower in the infected mice, both in the case MIP-1α and in the case of regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES). This is in correlation with slight inflammatory infiltrates found in the brain tissue early in infection

Influence of conjugated linoleic acid on the porcine immune response and morbidity: a randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has diverse influences on the immune response in different experimental models. In the present study we investigated the effect of CLA feeding on inflammatory and immune responses in a piglet model. We studied the duration of this effect and possible detrimental effects of CLA feeding. After 12 weeks of CLA and control supplementation and washout, animals were sacrificed and parenchymal organs were histologically examined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In activated peripheral mononuclear cells interferon-γ was significantly (p = 0.008) lower in the CLA group by the end of the feeding period. This effect disappeared as soon as supplementation was stopped. No differences were found in the tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-10 production, serum immunoglobulin-G levels and fat infiltration of the liver, except that fat storage cell infiltration was significantly (p < 0.04) higher in the CLA-fed group. The effect of time for interferon-γ, interleukin-10 and immunoglobulin-G levels was statistically significant.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>At the end of the feeding period the interferon-γ response was depressed. However, the maturation of the piglet immune system in our young pig model probably outweighs the impact of CLA feeding on the immune response, even though liver fat storage cell infiltration, which plays an important role in liver regeneration, increased during CLA feeding of the piglets.</p

Plasma cytokine response in mice with bacterial infection

Background: Exposure to microorganisms elicts the production of cytokines. These soluble factors enhance several innate immune functions and regulate the ensuing specific immune response aimed at limiting the spread of infection