Cytokine and chemokine levels in patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus.
BACKGROUND
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), which can cause hemorrhagic fever-like illness, is a newly discovered bunyavirus in China. The pathogenesis of SFTSV infection is poorly understood. However, it has been suggested that immune mechanisms, including cytokines and chemokines, play an important role in disease pathogenesis. In the present study, we investigated host cytokine and chemokine profiles in serum samples of patients with SFTSV infection from Northeast China and explored a possible correlation between cytokine levels and disease severity.


RESULTS
Acute phase serum samples from 40 patients, diagnosed with SFTSV infection were included. Patients were divided into two groups--severe or non-severe--based on disease severity. Levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, interleukin-6, interferon (IFN)-γ, IFN- γ-induced protein (IP)-10 and RANTES were measured in the serum samples with commercial ELISAs. Statistical analysis showed that increases in TNF-α, IP-10 and IFN-γ were associated with disease severity.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that a cytokine-mediated inflammatory response, characterized by cytokine and chemokine production imbalance, might be in part responsible for the disease progression of patients with SFTSV infection.
Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
Baocheng
B
Deng
Shujun
S
Zhang
Yingzhi
Y
Geng
Yuzhong
Y
Zhang
Yuncheng
Y
Wang
Wenqing
W
Yao
Ying
Y
Wen
Wei
W
Cui
Ying
Y
Zhou
Qiuhong
Q
Gu
Wen
W
Wang
Yu
Y
Wang
Zhen
Z
Shao
Yanli
Y
Wang
Chengbo
C
Li
Donglei
D
Wang
Yitong
Y
Zhao
Pei
P
Liu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002044:Bunyaviridae Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood*; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016856:Phlebovirus / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D018925:Chemokines