Multiplex analysis of circulating cytokines in the sera of patients with different clinical forms of visceral leishmaniasis.
BACKGROUND
The clinical spectrum of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), a chronic intracellular parasitic disease, ranges from a subclinical, asymptomatic infection to severe clinical disease (kala-azar). In experimental leishmaniasis, mice that have a Th1 response to infection tend to have limited disease while a Th2 response is associated with disease progression. Humans with VL most often have mixed rather than polarized responses. However, most clinical studies have used methods that require a relatively large sample volume, thus limiting their scope. Measuring multiple cytokine levels in blood samples using a multiplexed microsphere assay (MMA) may be useful to further evaluate the Th1/Th2 paradigm in humans.


METHODS
Bangladeshi individuals (n=120) living in an area endemic for VL were categorized into one of the five clinical categories. Sera from these individuals were measured for levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha by multiplexed microsphere cytokine immunoassay.


RESULTS
Circulating IL-8, IL-10, and IL-12 differed significantly among the clinical groups. Persons with kala-azar demonstrated the highest median levels of IL-8 and IL-10 but lower median levels of IL-12.


CONCLUSIONS
The MMA for cytokines is an extremely time-and sample-efficient method for characterizing circulating cytokine levels in visceral leishmaniasis patients.
Kurkjian
Katie M
KM
National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases, Branch of Parasitic Diseases, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Mahmutovic
Aida J
AJ
Kellar
Kathryn L
KL
Haque
Rashidul
R
Bern
Caryn
C
Secor
W Evan
WE
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D008863:Microspheres
D016207:Cytokines; D016209:Interleukin-8; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12