ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe changes in T cell subsets and TH1/TH2 secreted cytokines in the plasma of patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 22 patients with HFRS (9 mild cases and 13 moderate cases) were enrolled. Blood samples were taken 1, 4, and 12 weeks after presentation. T cell subsets were tested by flow cytometry (FCM), and the expression of cytokines in plasma were analysed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Another 16 healthy blood donors were enrolled as the control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CD3 + CD8 + T lymphocytes increased at week 1 and 4 (P < 0.01), which was more significant in mild cases than in moderate cases (P < 0.05). The change of CD3 + CD4 + T lymphocytes during the disease course were not significantly different from that in control group (P > 0.05). One week after presentation, TH1 [interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)] and TH2 (IL-6, IL-10) cytokine productions were significantly higher in HFRS patients than in the control group (P < 0.01); IL-2 and IL-10 remained high levels during the whole observation period, and were still significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.01). At week 4, the plasma IL-5 level was significantly higher in HFRS patients than in the control group (P < 0.01), and were still significantly higher than in the control group at week 12 (P < 0.01). At week 1 and 4, the plasma INF-gamma levels were significantly higher in moderate patients than in mild patients (P < 0.05); at week 12, the plasma IL-10 level was significantly higher in moderate patients than in mild patients(P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CD3 + CD4 + T lymphocytes remarkably increases at the early stage of disease in patients with mild HFRS. The early cell mediated immune response is helpful for disease control. The cytokines INF-gamma and IL-10 increase more obviously in moderate patients, indicating that cytokines also are key pathogenic factors of HRFS.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome , Blood , Allergy and Immunology , Interferon-gamma , Blood , Interleukins , Blood , T-Lymphocyte Subsets , Allergy and ImmunologyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the changes of the plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines levels in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect the plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines levels of 22 HFRS patients (9 mild cases and 13 moderate cases) 1, 4, and 12 weeks after they were diagnosed. Sixteen healthy blood donors were recruited as control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and IL-8 in HFRS patients were significantly higher than those in control group 1 week after they were diagnosed (all P < 0.01). The levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in HFRS patients returned to the normal levels four weeks after the diagnosis, while those of IL-1beta, IL-8, and IL-10 remained significantly higher than those in control group 12 weeks after the diagnosis (all P < 0.01). The IL-8 and IL-10 levels in mild HFRS patients were significantly higher than those in moderate HFRS patients at the same period (all P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Abnormal expressions and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines occurs during the disease course of HFRS.</p>