title: Increased pro-inflammatory cytokine production in Down Syndrome children upon stimulation with live influenza A virus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Children with down syndrome (DS) have an increased susceptibility to infections, due to altered humoral and/or cellular immunity. The aim of this study was to determine the cytokine production in whole blood of children with DS upon stimulation with live influenza A virus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Whole blood of 61 children with DS and 57 of their healthy siblings was stimulated with 2.5 × 10(4) TCID50/ml influenza A virus during 6, 24, and 48 h. TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IFN-α, IFN-γ concentrations, and viral load were measured at all time points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At most of the time points, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 concentrations were significantly higher in children with DS following stimulation with live influenza A virus. IFN-α and IFN-γ levels were also significantly higher in the DS group. Viral clearance, however, was equal in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with DS have an altered immune response to influenza A virus. The production of higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines may be responsible for a more severe clinical course of viral disease in these children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands. cjm.broers@vumc.nl
authors.forename: Chantal J M
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Broers
authors.forename: Reinoud J B J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Gemke
authors.forename: Michel E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Weijerman
authors.forename: Koen F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: van der Sluijs
authors.forename: A Marceline
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van Furth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators