Analysis of serum levels of cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and monoamine neurotransmitters in patients with tick-borne encephalitis: identification of novel inflammatory markers with implications for pathogenesis.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a leading human neuroinfection in Europe and northeastern Asia. However, the pathophysiology of TBE is not understood completely. This study sought to determine the specific serum mediators that are associated with acute TBE. The levels of 30 cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors were measured in serum samples from 87 patients with clinically and serologically confirmed acute TBE and from 32 control subjects using the Cytokine Human Magnetic 30-Plex Panel for the Luminex platform. Serum levels of the monoamine neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. TBE virus infection elicited increased levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-12. TBE patients had higher IL-12:IL-4 and IL-12:IL-10 ratios than control patients, reflecting the global pro-inflammatory cytokine balance. Serum levels of the monoamine neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline were significantly lower in TBE patients than in the control group. Most interestingly, increased levels of hepatocyte growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor were observed in TBE patients; these proteins may be novel and mechanistically important inflammatory biomarkers of TBE.

Serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 levels in patients with tick-borne encephalitis.

OBJECTIVES: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) play important roles in the function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). To investigate the function of the BBB during tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), the levels of MMP-9 and its common tissue inhibitor, TIMP-1, were measured in serum from patients with acute phase of TBE. METHODS: Serum MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels were measured in 147 patients with TBE and 153 controls by ELISA. RESULTS: Serum MMP-9 levels and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios of TBE patients were significantly higher than controls (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.005, respectively). There were no significant differences in serum TIMP-1 levels between TBE patients and controls. Serum MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios were not associated with age of the patients. However, TBE-positive males with TBE had higher levels of MMP-9 than TBE-positive females (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the increased serum level of MMP-9 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio is associated with the pathogenesis of TBE. Serum MMP-9 can serve as an indicator of breakdown of the BBB and inflammatory brain damage during TBE.

[Value of Western blotting in serodiagnosis of chlamydial infections]. / Pouzití metody Western blot v sérologické diagnostice chlamydiových infekcí.

UNLABELLED: The Western blot (WB) method was verified for serological diagnosis of chlamydial infections. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For testing, sera previously examined by the microimmunofluorescence (MIF) test with either ambiguous results or those suggesting persistent infection were used. RESULTS: Whereas the investigation confirmed adequate sensitivity and specificity of the MIF test for diagnosing Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection, it was less sensitive in case of Chlamydia trachomatis. Long-term persistence of IgA antibodies, detected by the MIF test, was often not confirmed by WB. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the view that detecting antibodies alone, without appropriate clinical symptoms, is not sufficient for antibiotic treatment of any infection.