title: Evaluation of Chosen Cytokine Levels among Patients with Herpes Zoster as Ability to Provide Immune Response.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Herpes zoster is a viral disease caused by the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) which remained latent in the cranial nerve or dorsal root ganglia. Cell-mediated immunity is known to decline with age as part of immunosenescence and can lead to the reactivation of VZV. Whereas herpes zoster is usually mild in healthy young persons, older patients are at increased risk for complications. In the present study we investigated the serum cytokine profile (IL-17, IL-23, IL-21, IL-4, IL-12), representing cellular and humoral immunity and assessed the level of VZV IgG antibodies in patients with herpes zoster.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the serum concentrations of IL-17, IL-23, IL-21, IL-4, IL-12 and the level of VZV IgG antibodies in 23 patients with herpes zoster who did not develop superinfection. The control group was represented by 21 individuals in similar age with no inflammatory and infectious diseases. Cytokine and antibodies levels were measured by ELISA method. Statistical analysis was performed using the ROC curve (receiver operating characteristic), t-test, Welch's t-test, and nonparametric tests with STATISTICA 10 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with herpes zoster, the serum level of IL-17, IL-23, IL-21, IL-4 and IL-12 as well as VZV IgG antibodies titer were statistically significantly increased compared to control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results confirm the broad activation of the immune system involving humoral and cell-mediated immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zajkowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garkowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Świerzbińska
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kułakowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Monika Emilia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Król
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ptaszyńska-Sarosiek
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, District Hospital in Hajnówka, Hajnówka, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nowicka-Ciełuszecka
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pancewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Czupryna
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moniuszko
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zajkowska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007378:Interleukins