Immunophenotype expressions and cytokine profiles of influenza A H1N1 virus infection in pediatric patients in 2009.
BACKGROUND
A novel swine-origin influenza A H1N1 virus (S-OIV) caused human infection and acute respiratory illness in 2009, resulting in an influenza pandemic.


OBJECTIVE
This study characterized the immune responses of S-OIV infection in pediatric patients at risk of pulmonary complications.


METHODS
All enrolled pediatric patients were confirmed virologically for S-OIV infection in 2009-2010, prospectively. Changes in cellular immunophenotypes were analyzed using flow cytometry. Plasma cytokine levels associated with S-OIV infection by pulmonary and without pulmonary complications were measured using cytokine cytometric bead assay kits.


RESULTS
A total of 85 patients with a mean age of 10.3 years were recruited. The level of C-reactive protein (CRP) was high in patients exhibiting pulmonary complications. The percentage of cellular immunophenotypes did not change between patients with and without pulmonary complications. The absolute numbers of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), CD3, CD8, and CD16CD56 decreased with acute S-OIV pulmonary complications. Acute influenza infection with pulmonary complications was associated with high plasma concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, and IFN-γ.


CONCLUSIONS
Immunophenotype studies have reported variability in immune response to the severity of S-OIV infections. Acute phase cytokine profiles of the 2009 S-OIV infection might have contributed to the pathogenesis of the pulmonary complications.
Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University and Hospital, Tainan 70428, Taiwan ; Center of Infectious Disease and Signaling Research, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70428, Taiwan.
Shih-Min
SM
Wang
Center of Infectious Disease and Signaling Research, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70428, Taiwan.
Yu-Ting
YT
Liao
Center of Infectious Disease and Signaling Research, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70428, Taiwan.
Yu-Shiang
YS
Hu
Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University and Hospital, Tainan 70428, Taiwan ; Center of Infectious Disease and Signaling Research, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70428, Taiwan.
Tzong-Shiann
TS
Ho
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University and Hospital, Tainan 70428, Taiwan.
Ching-Fen
CF
Shen
Center of Infectious Disease and Signaling Research, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70428, Taiwan ; Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70428, Taiwan.
Jen-Ren
JR
Wang
Center of Infectious Disease and Signaling Research, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70428, Taiwan ; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70428, Taiwan.
Yee-Shin
YS
Lin
Center of Infectious Disease and Signaling Research, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70428, Taiwan ; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University and Hospital, Tainan 70428, Taiwan.
Ching-Chuan
CC
Liu
D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
D007378:Interleukins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein