title: Cytokine profiles in cerebrospinal fluid of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with cryptococcal meningitis: no leukocytosis despite high interleukin-8 levels. University of Zimbabwe Meningitis Group.
abstract: Cytokine levels were studied in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 16 adults with cryptococcal meningitis (CM). Low levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon-gamma, high levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and IL-8, and the presence of IL-10 were documented. There were no significant differences in levels of TNF-alpha and interferon-gamma for CM and control patients. Mean CSF levels of IL-1beta (139.5 pg/mL), IL-6 (346 pg/mL), IL-8 (1160 pg/mL), and IL-10 (9.27 pg/mL) were significantly (P < .01) elevated in CM patients compared with levels in control patients. Despite the high CSF levels of IL-8, minimal leukocytosis was seen. Significant correlations between cryptococcal antigen titers and IL-10 levels (r = .8, P < .05), protein and cryptococcal antigen titer (r = .9, P < .05), and protein and IL-10 levels (r = .8, P < .05) were found.
authors.affiliation: Eijkman-Winkler Institute for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Inflammation, and Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chaka
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heyderman
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gangaidzo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verhoef
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verheul
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Hoepelman
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000254:growth & development; D016207:Cytokines / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007964:Leukocytosis; D016919:Meningitis, Cryptococcal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D016209:Interleukin-8; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma