Plasma inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a recently emerged infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus, but its immunopathological mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. We investigated changes in plasma T helper (Th) cell cytokines, inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in 20 patients diagnosed with SARS. Cytokine profile of SARS patients showed marked elevation of Th1 cytokine interferon (IFN)-gamma, inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and IL-12 for at least 2 weeks after disease onset, but there was no significant elevation of inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, Th1 cytokine IL-2 and Th2 cytokine IL-4. The chemokine profile demonstrated significant elevation of neutrophil chemokine IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and Th1 chemokine IFN-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10). Corticosteroid reduced significantly IL-8, MCP-1 and IP-10 concentrations from 5 to 8 days after treatment (all P < 0.001). Together, the elevation of Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma, inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6 and IL-12 and chemokines IL-8, MCP-1 and IP-10 confirmed the activation of Th1 cell-mediated immunity and hyperinnate inflammatory response in SARS through the accumulation of monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils.
Wong
C K
CK
Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
Lam
C W K
CW
Wu
A K L
AK
Ip
W K
WK
Lee
N L S
NL
Chan
I H S
IH
Lit
L C W
LC
Hui
D S C
DS
Chan
M H M
MH
Chung
S S C
SS
Sung
J J Y
JJ
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008775:Methylprednisolone