title: Plasma inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in severe acute respiratory syndrome.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: C W K
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: A K L
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Ip
authors.forename: N L S
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: I H S
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: L C W
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Lit
authors.forename: D S C
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: M H M
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: S S C
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: J J Y
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008775:Methylprednisolone