Aumento de interleuquinas proinflamatorias y de cortisol plasmático en bronquiolitis por virus respiratorio sincicial: relación con la gravedad de la infección / Levels of inflammatory cytokines and plasma cortisol in respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis

Background: An increased inflammatory innate response may play a role in pathogenesis of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. Aim: To quantify pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6-IL-8, ÍL-2-P and TNF-a) in nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) and plasma, and plasma cortisol in previously healthy infants with RSV bronchiolitis. Patients and Methods: We studied 49 infants aged less than one year of age with RSV bronchiolitis and 25 healthy controls. Severity was defined using a previously described modified score. We quantified interleukins in NPA and plasma by flow cytometry and plasma cortisol by radioimmunoanalysis. Results: Among patients with RSV bronchiolitis, 25 were classified as severe and 24 as moderate or mild. Significantly higher levels ofIL-6 and IL-8 in NPA and plasma and IL-lfi in NPA were found in children classified as severe, when compared to those with moderate or mild disease and controls. There was a positive correlation between IL-6 and cortisol in plasma (r = 0,55; p < 0,0001) and both were correlated with the severity of the disease. Conclusions: RSV bronchiolitis severity was associated with higher levéis of inflammatory interleukins and plasma cortisol.

Cyclosporin A-treated Dendritic Cells may affect the outcome of organ transplantation by decreasing CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell proliferation

One of the mechanisms for generation of tolerance involves immature dendritic cells (DCs) and a subpopulation of regulatory CD4+ CD25+ T lymphocytes (T REG). The purpose of this work was to analyze how Cyclosporine A (CsA), a widely used immunosuppressive drug, may affect T REG proliferation. Purified and activated murine DCs obtained from bone marrow precursors differentiated with rGMCSF were co-cultured with purified CFSE-labeled T REG from OTII mice, and their phenotype and proliferation analyzed by flow cytometry. Our data indicate that DCs differentiated in the presence of CsA show an altered phenotype, with a lower expression of MHC-II and a lower activating capacity. Additionally, these CsA-treated DCs show decreased production of IL-2 and IL-12 and increased IL-10 secretion when stimulated with LPS, indicating an effect on the polarization of the immune response. Interestingly, CsA-treated DCs show an anti-tolerogenic effect since they reduce the proliferation of T REG cells from 72 to 47 percent. Further inhibition to a 24 percent of T REG proliferation was obtained as a direct effect of CsA on T REG. In conclusion, the anti-tolerogenic effect of CsA should be considered in the planning of immunosuppression in the context of clinical transplantation.