title: Chemokine patterns in meningococcal disease.
abstract: Chemokines are important in regulating leukocyte traffic during infection. We analyzed plasma chemokine levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1 alpha , interleukin (IL)-8, and RANTES in patients with meningococcal infection and correlated these to plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels, which are closely associated with clinical presentation. In patients with fulminant meningococcal septicemia, versus distinct meningitis or mild systemic meningococcal disease, MCP-1 (both P<.0001), MIP-1 alpha (both P<.0001), and IL-8 (P<.0001 and P=.011) were significantly higher and RANTES significantly lower (P=.007 and P=.021). MCP-1 (r=.88), MIP-1 alpha (r=.82), and IL-8 (r=.89) were positively correlated to plasma LPS levels, whereas RANTES was negatively correlated (r=-.49). In an ex vivo whole-blood model, heat-inactivated wild-type Neisseria meningitidis, purified meningococcal LPS, and (to a negligible extent) heat-inactivated LPS-deficient mutant N. meningitidis induced these chemokines. N. meningitidis LPS is the major cause of chemokine release in meningococcal disease.
authors.affiliation: Secretariat for Scientific, Legal and Economic Affairs, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. a.s.w.moller@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Anne-Sophie W
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bjerre
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brusletto
authors.forename: Gun Britt
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Joø
authors.forename: Petter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brandtzaeg
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kierulf
mesh_terms: D016470:Bacteremia / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood; D054407:Chemokine CCL4; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000097:blood; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D019402:Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins / Q000097:blood; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D054407:Chemokine CCL4; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D018925:Chemokines; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D019402:Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins