title: Cytokine gene expression and protein production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of children with acute dengue virus infections.
abstract: Plasma leakage in dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is associated with elevated plasma levels of cytokines. To define further the contribution of immune activation to DHF and the source of cytokines, we analyzed the production of cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from children with dengue, using RT-PCR and immunostaining. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and TNF-beta expression was detected in all samples by PCR and in < 50% of samples by immunostaining. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) expression was detected in < 50% of samples by either method. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-4 expression was detected in a few samples by immunostaining but was not detectable by PCR. We found greater expression of TNF-alpha and IL-4 in DHF than in dengue fever or other (non-dengue) febrile illnesses. These results support the model of immunopathogenesis of DHF. However, low levels of cytokine expression in PBMC suggest that cellular activation in tissues may contribute to high serum cytokine levels in DHF.
authors.affiliation: Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655, USA.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.forename: Masuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kurane
authors.forename: Sharone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Vaughn
authors.forename: Siripen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalayanarooj
authors.forename: Saroj
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suntayakorn
authors.forename: Francis A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Ennis
authors.forename: Alan L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rothman
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000276:immunology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D019595:Severe Dengue / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4