Cytokine profile and nitric oxide levels in sera from patients with brucellosis

Abstract

The aims of this study were to investigate the serum levels of some cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), IL-2R, IL-6, and IL-8] and nitric oxide (NO) levels in patients with untreated brucellosis and to test the correlation of these parameters with each other. The study was conducted on 67 subjects, 37 patients with brucellosis and 30 healthy individuals with no history of Brucella infection. Brucellosis was identified by a positive blood culture and/or increased Brucella antibodies in serological tests in addition to compatible clinical symptoms. Cytokine profile analysis was performed by the immulite chemiluminescent enzyme immunometric assay whose inter-and intra-assay coefficients of variance were 2.6-3.6 and 4.4-8.5%, respectively. The levels of nitrites/nitrates, which are representative of NO levels, were measured by the Griess method. Patients with brucellosis had significantly elevated serum levels of nitrites/ nitrates, IL-2R, IL-6 and IL-8 (mean ± SD, 102.8 ± 23.8 µmol/l, 806.1 ± 58.5 U/ml, 21.1 ± 2.3 pg/ml, and 8.8 ± 1.6 pg/ml, respectively) compared to healthy controls, whereas TNF-α and IL-1ß levels were unchanged. No statistically significant correlation was detected between any of the studied cytokine levels and nitrate/nitrite concentrations according to Pearson's linear correlation test. We conclude that only IL-6, IL-8 and IL-2R are elevated in brucellosis and the extent of elevation depends on the severity and clinical pattern of the disease. Moderate elevation in serum NO was comparable to that observed in previous studies. This explains the absence or very rare occurrence of septic shock in brucellosis.

Diminished percentage of CD4+ T-lymphocytes expressing interleukine-2 receptor alpha in chronic brucellosis

“…16,17 The expression of IL-2Ra on human T-lymphocytes has been demonstrated to be induced in vitro by Brucella abortus, 18 whereas the serum levels of sIL-2Ra are increased in acute brucellosis, indicating patients with more severe disease and poor outcome. 19,20 The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the percentage of peripheral CD4C T-lymphocytes expressing IL-2Ra (CD25) in brucellosis patients in order to investigate the role of IL-2Ra in disease outcome.…”

Acute Renal Failure Caused by Blunt Trauma in a Kidney Transplant Recipient

“…Additionally it is known that IL-1β plays role in blood vessel formation [14]. Accordingly, serum IL-1β and IL-6 levels of the patient were higher than healthy subjects [15]. We believe that elevation of IL-1β together with IL-6…”

Cytokine Profiles in Acute Brucellosis, Compared with Those in Other Febrile Illnesses

“…In a research performed on 67 cases, 37 patients with brucellosis and 30 healthy individuals with no history of brucella infection, serum TNF-α levels were unchanged compared to healthy controls (12). In another study on humans, brucella infected macrophages produced IL-1, IL-6, IL-10 and other chemokines like IL-8 yet did not secrete TNF-α (16,22).…”