Plasma levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in Ghanaian children with vaccine-modified measles.
To understand the pathogenesis of vaccine-modified measles (VMM), we measured plasma levels of IFN-gamma and IL-2 (Th1 cytokines), IL-4 and IL-10 (Th2 cytokines), IL-12, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 in children with uncomplicated measles, who had anti-measles IgG antibodies and with a history of immunization on admission (day 0), day 14 and day 60. We compared these to levels in healthy, age-matched, immunized children. Plasma levels of IFN-gamma, IL-2 and IL-12 were significantly higher in VMM patients on day 0 compared to healthy controls (p = 0.023; p = 0.018; p = 0.001) respectively. In contrast, plasma IL-4 was lower in VMM patients on day 0 when compared to the controls (p = 0.009). Plasma levels of IL-12 remained consistently high on days 14 and 60 (p = 0.001; p = 0.04), whilst IL-10 levels fell significantly on the same days (p = 0.002; p = 0.001) respectively. Kinetically, IFN-gamma and IL-10 levels decreased consistently from day 0 to days 14 and 60 in VMM patients. In contrast, IL-4 levels increased from day 0 to day 14 and day 60. Our results therefore suggest that VMM is associated with an early up-regulation of Th1 cytokine production and a down-regulation of Th2 cytokine production. The strong Th1 response may be associated with the induction of IL-12 and memory cells, thus contributing to the early resolution of the infection and lack of complications.
Tetteh
John K A
JK
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Ghana.
Addae
Mark M
MM
Ishiwada
Naruhiko
N
Yempewu
Sena M
SM
Yamaguchi
Shinya
S
Ofori-Adjei
David
D
Kamiya
Hitoshi
H
Komada
Yoshihiro
Y
Akanmori
Bartholomew D
BD
D002648:Child; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D008458:Measles Vaccine