A systemic downregulation of gamma interferon production is associated with acute shigellosis.
Production of cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Shigella-infected patients was assessed. The frequencies of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), TNF-beta, and transforming growth factor beta mRNA-expressing cells were persistently upregulated during the course of shigellosis in comparison to those of healthy controls. In contrast, the frequency of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) mRNA-expressing cells was significantly reduced during the acute stage compared to that during the convalescent stage and to that of healthy Bangladeshi controls (P < 0.01). Constitutive IFN-gamma production in Bangladeshi controls was significantly upregulated compared to that in Swedish controls.
Raqib
R
R
Division of Clinical Bacteriology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden. rubhana@icddrb.org
Gustafsson
A
A
Andersson
J
J
Bakhiet
M
M
D000328:Adult; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004405:Dysentery, Bacillary / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012760:Shigella
D007371:Interferon-gamma