CD4+ and CD8+ T cell activation markers in pandemic H1N1-infected patients and controls.

<p>Box plots show the 10^th, 25^th, 50^th (median), 75^th and 90^th percentile and outlying values. Gray box plots represent the percentage of CD4+ T cells (upper panel) and CD8+ T cells (lower panel) that express activation markers CD38/HLA-DR in 13 H1N1-infected patients at baseline (week 0) and during follow-up (week 1, 4, and 16). White box plots indicate 13 sex and aged-matched healthy controls. Asterisks indicate a significant increase in percentage of double positive DR+/CD38+ in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (p<0,05 versus controls).</p

Persistent high plasma levels of sCD163 and sCD14 in adult patients with measles virus infection

<div><p>Background and aims</p><p>Measles is an infectious disease that represents a serious public health problem worldwide, being associated with increased susceptibility to secondary infections, especially in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. The aim of this study was to evaluate sCD163 and sCD14 levels in measles virus (MV) infected patients, as markers of immune activation, in order to better understand their role in the pathogenesis of the disease. TNF-α plasma levels were also evaluated.</p><p>Methods</p><p>sCD163, sCD14 and TNF-α were measured by ELISA in plasma samples of 27 MV infected patients and 27 healthy donors (HD) included as controls.</p><p>Results</p><p>At the time of hospital admission, sCD163 and sCD14 levels were significantly higher in MV infected patients than in HD, while a decrease in TNF-α levels were found even if without statistical significance. sCD163 and sCD14 levels were significantly decreased after two months from acute infection compared to hospital admission although they remained significantly higher compared to HD. TNF-α levels increased significantly during the follow-up period. Considering clinical parameters, sCD163 levels positively correlated with aspartate aminotransferase, white blood cell count and neutrophils rate, while negatively correlated with the lymphocyte percentage. sCD14 levels positively correlated with the neutrophil and lymphocyte percentages.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>These results indicate that, despite the resolution of symptoms, an important macrophage/monocyte activation persists in measles patients, even after two months from infection.</p></div

Circulating myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) and plasmacytoid DC (pDC) in pandemic H1N1-infected patients and controls.

<p>Box plots show the 10th, 25th, 50th(median), 75th and 90th percentile and outlying values. Gray box plots represent the number of circulating mDCs (upper panel) and pDCs (lower panel) in 13 H1N1-infected patients at baseline (week 0) and during follow-up (week 1, 4 and 16). White box plots indicate 13 sex and aged-matched healthy controls. Asterisks indicate significant decrease of mDC and pDC (p<0,05 versus controls).</p

Plasma levels of chemokines and cytokines in pandemic H1N1-infected patients and controls.

<p>Dot plot represent circulating levels of chemokines CCL3/MIP-1α, CCL4/MIP-1β, CCL5/RANTES (upper panel) and cytokines TNF-α, IFN-α, IFN-γ, IP-10, IL-6, IL-15, IL-17 (lower panel) in 13 H1N1-infected patients at the time of hospitalization. Black circles indicate 13 sex and aged-matched healthy controls. Only the levels of IP-10 and RANTES were significantly higher in patients in comparison with the control group (p<0.01 for both).</p

Blood monocytes, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell count in 13 patients with pandemic H1N1 influenza and 13 healthy controls.

<p>Results are expressed in median (range).</p><p>Asterisks indicate significant decrease (p<0.05 versus controls).</p

Plasma levels of sCD163, sCD14 and TNF-α in MV infected patients and healthy controls.

<p>(A) Box plots represent circulating levels of sCD163 in MV infected patients at T0 (n = 27) and in HD (n = 27). (B) Box plots represent circulating levels of sCD14 in MV infected patients at T0 (n = 27) and in HD (n = 27). (C) Box plots represent circulating levels of TNF-α in MV infected patients at T0 (n = 27) and in HD (n = 27). Horizontal bars represent the median values. For TNF-α graph a log10 scale was used. Statistical differences were assessed by the Mann-Whitney test. MV: measles virus; HD: healthy donors.</p

Demographic and clinical characteristics of the 13 patients affected by pandemic H1N1 influenza.

<p>BMI: body mass index; Sat: saturation; CPAP: continuous positive airway pressure; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.</p

Longitudinal plasma levels of sCD163, sCD14 and TNF-α in MV infected patients and in HD.

<p>(A) Box plots represent circulating levels of sCD163 in MV infected patients at T0 (n = 27), T1 (n = 20), T2 (n = 7) and in HD (n = 27). (B) Box plots represent circulating levels of sCD14 in MV infected patients at T0 (n = 27), T1 (n = 20), T2 (n = 7) and in HD (n = 27). (C) Box plots represent circulating levels of TNF-α in MV infected patients at T0 (n = 27), T1 (n = 20), T2 (n = 7) and in HD (n = 27). Horizontal bars represent the median values. For TNF-α graph a log10 scale was used. Statistical differences were assessed by the Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests. MV: measles virus; HD: healthy donors; T0: time of admission; T1: after 1 week; T2: 8 weeks of therapy.</p

General and clinical information of study subjects.

<p>General and clinical information of study subjects.</p

Correlations between clinical and immunological parameters.

<p>Correlations between clinical and immunological parameters.</p