title: Dynamics of the cytokine response to Mycobacterium ulcerans during antibiotic treatment for M. ulcerans disease (Buruli ulcer) in humans.
abstract: We have studied the evolution of the gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) responses after Mycobacterium ulcerans sonicate stimulation of whole blood from patients with early M. ulcerans lesions during treatment with rifampin and streptomycin for 8 weeks. Among the 26 patients, secretion of IFN-gamma increased during treatment, with a significant increase at 4 weeks and a further increase after 8 weeks overall. The increase was more rapid in patients with large or ulcerative lesions, becoming significant by 4 weeks. For small lesions, there was only a minor increase, which did not reach significance. There was no significant change in the median IL-10 response during antibiotic therapy, and there was no inverse correlation between IFN-gamma and IL-10 responses. These results demonstrate that an IFN-gamma secretory response to M. ulcerans developed, independently of IL-10 secretion, in patients whose M. ulcerans disease healed during antibiotic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Sarfo
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ampadu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sarpong
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Adentwe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wansbrough-Jones
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054312:Buruli Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019911:Mycobacterium ulcerans / Q000276:immunology*; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D012293:Rifampin; D013307:Streptomycin