title: Cytokine patterns in paediatric patients presenting serious gastrointestinal and respiratory bacterial infections.
abstract: In the adaptive immune response, the types of cytokines produced define whether there is a cellular (T1) or a humoral (T2) response. Specifically, in the T1 response, interleukin 2 (IL-2), interferon γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor β (TNF-β) are produced, whereas in the T2 response, IL-4, IL-5, IL- 6, IL-10 and IL-13 are primarily produced. Cytokines are primarily involved in the regulation of immune system cells. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cytokine patterns (Type 1/Type 2) and TNF-α expression levels in children with severe gastrointestinal and respiratory bacterial infections. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was used to identify the cytokines and the infectious agents. The results obtained demonstrated that, in general, children with bacterial infections experienced an increase in IL-2, IFN-γ and IL-4 concentrations and a decrease in TNF-α, IL-5 and IL-6 concentrations when compared to healthy children. Specifically, type 1 cytokines and an increased TNF-α concentration were found in children with gastrointestinal infections. However, patients with respiratory infections showed increased concentrations of both T2 (IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10) and T1 (IL-2 and IFN-γ) components. Thus, it was concluded that children with gastrointestinal infections exclusively developed a T1 response, whereas children with respiratory infections developed a T1/T2 response to fight the infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care - Autonomous Metropolitan University - Xochimilco, México.
authors.forename: Oralia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nájera-Medina
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care - Autonomous Metropolitan University - Xochimilco, México.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palacios-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Departament of Health Sciences -Autonomous Metropolitan University - Iztapalapa, México.
authors.forename: Leonor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Cruz
authors.affiliation: Xochimilco Maternal and Paediatric Hospital of the Government of Mexico City, México.
authors.forename: Consuelo Del Carmen
authors.initials: Cdel C
authors.lastname: Cortés-Bejar
authors.affiliation: Xochimilco Maternal and Paediatric Hospital of the Government of Mexico City, México.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valencia-Chavarría
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care - Autonomous Metropolitan University - Xochimilco, México.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martínez-Gómez
authors.affiliation: Departament of Health Sciences -Autonomous Metropolitan University - Iztapalapa, México.
authors.forename: María Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: González-Torres
keywords: ELISA; T1; T2; cytokines; gastrointestinal infections; respiratory infections