Differential expression of proinflammatory cytokines and their inhibitors during the course of meningococcal infections.
Circulating concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), and soluble TNF receptors p55 (sTNFr-55) and p75 (sTNFr-75) and ex vivo production of TNF, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-1ra using a whole blood culture system were measured during the acute and convalescent stages of meningococcal infection. Circulating TNF and IL-1 were below detection level, whereas IL-6 and IL-1ra, sTNFr-55, and sTNFr-75 were increased at admission. The ex vivo production of proinflammatory cytokines TNF, IL-1, and IL-6 was suppressed at admission and restored gradually during recovery. On the contrary, the production of the antiinflammatory IL-1ra was increased at admission. The elevated concentrations of both IL-1ra and sTNFr early in the course of infection suggest a regulatory role for these antiinflammatory compounds. The observed down-regulation of the ex vivo production of TNF, IL-1, and IL-6 and up-regulation of the production of IL-1ra in the acute stage may indicate a protective regulation mechanism.
van Deuren
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Nijmegen, Netherlands.
van der Ven-Jongekrijg
J
J
Demacker
P N
PN
Bartelink
A K
AK
van Dalen
R
R
Sauerwein
R W
RW
Gallati
H
H
Vannice
J L
JL
van der Meer
J W
JW
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D016207:Cytokines; D004731:Endotoxins; C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha