Gender-related cytokine patterns in sera of schistosomiasis patients with Symmers' fibrosis

Abstract

Cytokine levels were compared between schistosomiasis patients affected by intense fibrosis defined by ultrasound examination and graded from F-0 to F-3. The concentrations of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, gamma interferon, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of serum samples. Levels of IL-4, IL-5, and TNF-alpha in the sera of F-3 patients were significantly higher than those found in F-0 individuals, while levels of IL-13 were lower. Levels of IL-4, IL-5, and TNF-alpha in serum were significantly higher in F-3 males than in F-0 males or F-3 females. Conversely, levels of IL-13 were significantly lower in F-3 females than in F-0 females and males.

FIG. 1.

Distribution of schistosomiasis patients by fibrosis intensity, age, and gender. Patients were grouped by gender (males, striped; females, crosshatched), and fibrosis was graded by echography. Vertical lines represent the median values, boxes represent the 25th to the 75th percentiles, and horizontal lines represent the 10th to the 90th percentiles.

FIG. 2.

Serum cytokine profiles related to fibrosis intensity. Levels of IL-1-β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were determined by ELISA in serum samples from individuals with schistosomiasis and intense Symmers' fibrosis (F-3) (grey bars) or nonaffected individuals (F-0) (open bars). Horizontal lines represent the median values, boxes represent the 25th to the 75th percentiles, and vertical lines represent the 10th to the 90th percentiles. Asterisks indicate statistically significant differences (P ≤ 0.05).

FIG. 3.

Male and female serum cytokine profiles related to fibrosis intensity. Levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and TNF-α were determined by ELISA in serum samples from males (M) and females (F) with schistosomiasis and intense Symmers' fibrosis (F-3) (grey bars) or nonaffected persons (F-0) (open bars). Horizontal lines represent the median values, boxes represent the 25th to the 75th percentiles, and vertical lines represent the 10th to the 90th percentiles Asterisks indicate statistically significant differences (P ≤ 0.05).