title: Changes of Th1/Th2 cytokines in immunocompetent patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of Th1/Th2 cytokines in immunocompetent patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC). Twenty immunocompetent patients with PC were identified by histopathological examination and were enrolled in the study along with the age- and gender-matched healthy controls. The serum concentrations of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interleukin-12 (IL-12) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in both groups were isolated and incubated with or without recombinant human IL-12 (rhIL-12) for 48 h, and the concentrations of IFN-g and IL-4 in the supernatant were measured by ELISA. Serum IFN-γ levels were greatly decreased in the patients compared with control groups (P < 0.01), whereas no significant difference was observed in serum IL-4 and IL-12 levels. The concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-4 in the supernatant of PBMCs without the stimulation of rhIL-12 showed no differences between the two groups. Treatment with rhIL-12 stimulated the release of IFN-γ, but not IL-4, into the supernatant of PBMCs in both groups, with a lower increase observed in the patients (4.3-fold) compared to that of controls (7.9-fold) (P < 0.01). Serum IFN-γ levels may be dampened in immunocompetent patients with PC with no significant changes in serum IL-4 and IL-12 levels. The deficiency in the response to IL-12 stimulation of Th1 cells may be one of the underlying mechanisms for the decline in serum IFN-γ levels.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Respiratory Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: X Q
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines