title: Detection of interleukin-6 and interleukin-2 in serum of rhesus monkeys exposed to a nonlethal dose of staphylococcal enterotoxin B.
abstract: The immune response to a nonlethal dose of aerosolized staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) was studied in nonhuman primates to define the potential human host response to a nonlethal exposure of SEB on the battlefield. Serum levels of the cytokines interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) increased significantly (p < 0.01) in six juvenile rhesus monkeys 4 hours after receiving a nonlethal, inhaled dose of SEB. The mean (+/-SD) peak serum levels of IL-2 and IL-6 were 63 +/- 39 units/ml and 514 +/- 234 pg/ml, respectively, post-SEB treatment. Tumor necrosis factor, known to be associated with SEB-mediated lethal toxic shock, was undetectable in all samples. gamma-Interferon concentrations were also elevated, but not significantly [p < 0.089]. Hence, elevated levels of IL-2 and IL-6 might be used as a serological marker for a nonlethal, incapacitating exposure to SEB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702-5011, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krakauer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pitt
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Hunt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D018089:Superantigens / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004768:Enterotoxins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018089:Superantigens; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal